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Ben And The Bats

by Sir Hat

Chapters

Bites

"Get up...Ben...get up."

I felt something poke into my ribs, prompting me to let out a loud groan as I buried my head into whatever pillow I had.

"Fine...I'll find a way."

I let out a long moan as I tried to merge with my bedding. The comfort was fleeting however, soon broken by a sharp pain in the back of my neck. "Ow...owww....owwwww!" the pain left as I flopped onto the floor. "Fuck! I'm up, I'm up!"

I rolled onto my back. A batfoal quickly found it's home on my belly. "I knew that would work." Foxglove walked out of the room. "Bring bitey into the nursery when you're ready to start."

I looked around the room as the foal crawled over my chest, biting my hand as I guarded my throat. "Oh god...I've made a terrible mistake with my entire life." I sat upright, bitey foal still latched on and sucking at my hand. It was definitely the same foal, light gray coat, and a dark green mane. He was cute, aside from the constant nipping and biting.

I stood up, cradling the foal and pulling my hand away. He quickly started crying, forcing me to give up my hand to spare my ears. "Bugger...bugger bugger bugger ass." I continued my mild swearing as I walked through the halls, trying to find the nursery from the faint memories of yesterday.

"Alright bitey...we can do this." I ran my free hand through his mane, making him coo quietly as he eased up on my hand. As I did I caught a glimpse of the small punctures from the previous night. They were nearly healed already, but still rather noticeable.

I wandered around until finding familiar ground, following the vague memories and walking in on a couple, mid sex. "Holy shit- sorry!" I walked back out and slammed the door. "Bitey...you saw nothing." he looked up at me and mad a soft baby noise and bit the meat of my thumb. "Exactly...ow." I shook my head and hurried off. "What the hell am I doing, talking to myself."

I continued wandering around, and after about thirty minutes of having a half awake foal gnaw on my hand, found the nursey. Foxglove turned to me almost immediately. "Dear Luna Ben...you really got lost."

I ignored her and grabbed a bottle, finally finding something new for bitey to chew on. "It's been a journey. So does this foal have a name?"

Foxglove walked over. "That one...foal twenty-six."

I turned to her with a suspicious look. "Are you serious? You just number them?!"

She gave a noncommittal nod, nearly shaking her head. "Sometimes foals without parents just get numbers until I can think of something."

"He doesn't have parents!? So he's an orphan? That sucks...." I rubbed his dark green made with my hand as he ate.

Foxglove looked over the other foals, already fed and put to bed. "He's not an orphan, he's just...how do I explain this." Foxglove found a cushion and sat down. "There aren't a lot of batponies, so Luna made a decree that we...well...to put it crudely, make more. But most couples already have a foal, and the ones that don't are generally trying. Foals like him, are raise by the castle staff or the guard."

I felt my energy drain as I came to terms with his strange position. "So just raised by the castle? How many batponies are there anyways?"

She looked up and to the side. "About...wait including the night guard, about...four hundred."

"That doesn't-"

"There are nearly ten thousand ponies in the Greater Canterlot area."

I let out a soft cough. "So...extreme minority. But I'm-"

"I know what you're gonna say, another human said the same thing before. Sure there are batponies in other towns, but there just aren't."

I slouched down and took a seat on the edge of the table. Bitey quickly sucked down the rest of the bottle. "Sorry...didn't mean to bring it up."

Foxglove let out a soft sigh. "It's not your fault, it's just...sensitive." she walked slowly over and looked at the foal in my arms. "He likes you...."

I looked down at my hand. "I noticed. He has a bit of an odd way of showing it."

Foxglove walked off, batting my ass with her tail. "Name him."

"Huh?" I looked at her with utter confusion. "You serious?"

She turned around and shrugged. "Why not. Just make it something smart."

I let out a rough cough. "So Ben's out of the question?"

Foxglove started bellowing. "Oooh...funny...yeah no."

I gave her a wide smirk, quickly turning to the tiny baby bat in my arms. "Wayne."

Foxglove cocked her head. "Wayne?"

"It's a human thing. And it's a good name, smart sounding, got a good weight to it." I poked the foal's stomach, causing him to squirm a little as I pressed my finger into his soft belly.

"Hmm...well then, you're the daddy."

I froze, accidentally jabbing the foal in the belly and making him cry. "Wait what?!"

Foxglove took the foal from me, quickly setting him in a crib and tucking him away. "I'm joking. Unless you really want to, but he'll be fine either way." she walked over to me and bopped my knee. "Your face right now, it's priceless." she started snickering as she walked away. "Come on, time to take care of the fillies and colts."

I nearly fell as I pushed off the table. "Don't fucking do that! My heart...it hurts...." I felt like someone had just punched me straight in the chest, my heart fluttering as I tried to walk over to her.

Foxglove lead me across the hall and into a large room with a bunch padded furniture. "Heads up!"

"Huh- oof!" I turned, catching a flying filly straight to the gut and crumpling like tinfoil.

I was quickly kicked in the gut as the filly bounced off me. "Jerk!" she flew off after another young pony, leaving me in a groaning mess on the floor.

Foxglove walked over, hear head hanging in my vision. "I told you...hurts doesn't it?"

I grabbed my back and forced myself upright. "Did someone get the number of that bus?" I joked, only confusing Foxglove. "Eh...stupid joke anyways." I leaned against the wall and nursed my bruised stomach. "So what do I do now?"

Foxglove ducked a flying colt. "Survive. Have fun!" she bolted out of the room, leaving me alone in a room of about six grade school foals. I looked around the room, slowly edging my way to the quietest one in the room. A small filly reading a book.

I ducked down behind her and looked at the book she was reading. It was upside down. "Um...you know it's upside down right?"

"Shh...." the filly didn't even turn around to face me, dismissing me and going back to her book. She flicked the page before turning to me. "I know, I can read upside down." she looked me over. "Who the heck are you?"

"Well jeez...apparently I'm no one." she didn't take kindly to my sarcasm, sitting on her haunches and staring at me with a bored expression. "I'm Ben, apparently I'm supposed to help take care of you."

The filly smiled wickedly.  "She left you alone in here didn't she?"

I felt something bound off my back, nearly knocking me forward. "Get the heck back here!" I turned and found the filly that had gutted me was still chasing after a grey maned filly. I stood up, taking a deep breath and getting into position.

"It's not my fault you're-" I grabbed the grey maned filly out of the air, catching her like a football and holding her under my arm. She froze, blinking a few times until realizing what had stopped her. "Whoa...do that again!"

"Adorable...." I grumbled to myself as I plucked the other filly out of the air, her purple striped mane zooming behind her. "But I'm gonna need you two to calm down."

The grey mane started snickering. "You said tutu."

I shifted my grip, picking her up by the belly and bringing her up to my vision. "Yes...yes I did. Now go do something productive." I set her down. She immediately ran off, staring back at me until she ran cheek first into a desk.

She shook her head hard and kept running. "I'm okay!"

I could only watch in awe as she continued to run around the room after bashing her head like that. "Hey...can you let me go?!" the purple striped filly started squirming. I quickly set her down, letting her bolt after the grey mane and immediately start the chase again. I gave up and just sat with the book bound filly.

I grabbed the book, prompting the filly to bite my hand. "Son of a- fuuu- echurgh...." I pulled her off my hand and sat her on my lap. "Why the bites?"

"Don't touch my book next time!" she snarled, pressing her hooves into my stomach and staring up at me. "It's not nice!"

I pushed her down by her muzzle, leaning back into a nearby wall and looking through the book. "What the hell...." I flipped a few pages ahead. "This is Jack London...where did you even get this!?"

The book filly huffed at me, folding her forelegs and leaning into my stomach. "I asked for a book with a dog...."

I let out a rough cough. "Well...this is a book about a dog, but it's a little...adult, for you." I folded the book closed and set the filly down. "Let me see if I can find something more age appropriate." I found a nearby bookshelf, most of the books on the floor. I rummaged through the remains and found a Daring Do novel. "Here." I walked over and handed the filly the book. "Good adventure stories are always fun."

She looked at the book, almost instantly tossing it at my shin. "Read it."

I rubbed my shin and went back to looking. "Alright then...Star Swi-"

"Read it." the filly had walked slowly over and was perched next to me. "I read most of them."

I grabbed the Jack London book and flipped through it. "...How old are you?"

The filly perked up, her silver streaked mane bobbing as she threw it out of her eyes. "Eight!"

I stared at the book in my hands. "...Ehhhhhh...I guess...hmm...eh, it'll be fine." I handed back the original book. The silver headed filly took it in her mouth and hurried off.

Foxglove peeked her head back into the room. "Ben, you're alive! Good, you can help me bring them lunch."

I ducked a flying colt and rolled out of the room. "You bats...ponies...batponies...are strange people."

Foxglove quickly ran over to a waiting cart. "You're just jealous, now push this stupid thing."

I got behind the cart and slowly pushed it down the hall. "So...what they eating?"

Foxglove shook her head lightly from side to side. "Oh you know, carrots, potato, pork, the good stuff."

I let my head fall to the floor as I pushed the cart through the doors. The foals quickly ransacked it and went about their business. "Man...I never got pork for lunch as a kid." I watched the foals eat. "...I'm gonna go grab Wayne and take a nap...."

Foxglove watched me as I left. "Well I thought we could go catch some dri-"

"Too depressed for your romantic interest...If you need me I'll be sulking." I drifted out of the room to the sound of Foxglove's confused sputters. I found Wayne fidgeting in his crib. I pulled him out and laid on the floor. Letting him latch onto the back of my neck as I napped on the soft carpet of the nursery. Wayne let out a soft cooing as he drifted to sleep, still latched onto my neck like some bad habit.

A last thought struck me as I drifted away. I hadn't seen the sun all day. I wonder if that's gonna be a problem.

Tired

Four days after drinking that poison and I still haven't recovered. The hyperactivity is gone, now all that's left is fatigue and exhaustion. But I still had to work, Foxglove was still making me sit around feeding the foals as she placed them into my lap. I had stolen a pacifier from the supply closet and was endlessly chewing it as my teeth continued to change.

My teeth had started to grow sharper and sharper as they came further out. I grabbed the pacifier and pulled it out of my mouth, I had nearly shredded it. "Son of a bitch...look at this." I held the pacifier for her as she traded foals with me. "This is ridiculous."

Foxglove grabbed the handle end and tossed it into the trash. "Yeah, we go through nipples and pacifiers like water. I mean, back before I hired you my nipples were--"

"Oh god...come on, I don't want to talk about your nipples." I started feeding a steely grey foal as Foxglove wandered off. She came back with another pacifier.

She trotted over and looked at me. "Shay aw." she mumbled with the pacifier in her mouth.

"I'm not-- ow, fuck!" I covered my mouth as I bit into my tongue.

Foxglove slowly leaned in over to me. "Ahhhhh...." she continued to hum as she pushed the pacifier against my lips. I finally opened my mouth, letting her force the pacifier into my mouth, along with a quick kiss. "Good boy." she patted my head as she wandered off. She had been sneaking in chances to kiss me, brush against me, or otherwise be overly friendly.

I just sat on the ground, chewing on the pacifier and feeding the current foal in my lap. I couldn't even enjoy the feel of their coat on my hands. The potion Foxglove had given me completely fucked up my circadian rhythm, given me my new teeth problem, and made my hair silky smooth. Granted the hair thing was negligible, but I was also developing a horrible hunger for steak.

I could live with the meat cravings and the amazing hair, but my nocturnal shift has been making me paler and paler. Even after only four days I had gone from Mediterranean to white as a ghost. And I was constantly biting my own tongue or lips, to such a degree that I had a lisp for the last thirty odd hours. But all Foxglove could do is laugh, or say how cute it was.

At least I had Wayne. Little green headed misfit and I spend the past few days together. Foxglove was even sneaking into my house as the sun came up. She had followed int the little one's hoofsteps and had started gnawing on my arm to go to sleep. I couldn't complain though. Watching the two bat ponies latch onto my arm like a fuzzy Christmas themed IV was worth the pain.

Foxglove brought my Wayne, last of the foals to be fed, and plopped her flank next to me. Her breasts jiggled softly as she plopped down. "So Ben...are we dating? Cause you let me bite you, and the foot thing...which we need to talk about after this. But first, are we dating, cause I really want to know. I mean...I know it's kinda fast, but I'm not saying we should fuck, I just want to know if you want to try at some point."

I stared blankly at her, sucking on the pacifier and looking at Wayne as he fought with the bottle. I darted my eyes up and shrugged. "Oh don't give me that Ben!" Foxglove gripped the other end of my pacifier and tried to yank it away. "Let-go!" she pulled back as I bit down harder on the false nipple in my mouth.

We went through a quick battle of tug the tit and eventually she gave up. "Fine! But I need to talk about the foot thing...." Again I just stared at her. "Will you stop that shit!" she threw her dark red hair back and took a deep breath. "I...I...I basically humped your foot- well technically you rubbed me with your foot, but I let you- so back to my point! It felt...it felt good, like really good. So even if we're not dating, I think we should do that again, or something else, something involving rubbing."

I shredded the rubber nipple in my mouth, spitting out the shreds and looking at Wayne as he fought my hand with his front hooves and bit at me. He continued to make loud angry coos and yaps as I stared at him. "She serious?" Wayne let out a long grumble as he grabbed my hand and bit me, his little green eyes practically glowing as he bite my hand like prey.

"Ben...don't joke about this." Foxglove covered her face with her tail. Her face only slightly lighter than her burgundy tail. "The last time someone touched me like that I was...well, a lot younger than now!"

"Pfff. Young, you're like twenty."

"Twenty six is old!"

"Twenty six is not old!" I snapped. "You're younger than me so shut up!" I batted her over the head softly. "Just go find a stallion or something, I'm sure a hoof would feel about the same."

Foxglove fixed her teased mane. "Don't do that. And trust me...your thingys move to much, what are they called...the little thingys. You know what I'm talking about, you're foot fingers."

I started chuckling as I stood up. "Foot fingers. You mean toes." I went to go put Wayne in a crib. "Foot fingers...just what?"

"I don't know what they're called! Anyways...they dug in and wiggled and...it had been a while. So...can we? I'll do something for you this time, I promise!" Foxglove stood on her hind legs, making her nearly my height. She nuzzled my neck with the top of her head as she hummed. "When you bit me, and your teeth dug in, I got so wet, so ready, ready to be taken, taken like a mare in heat, ready to be rode so hard." she leaned against me and got to her hoof tips. "So hard."

I felt my face burn as my pants constricted. "Go hire a prostitute...I will not be abused by my boss." I ran my hands through Wayne's mane. "And as for the dating...maybe. Tell ya what, I'll date you when I finally finish furnishing my apartment."

"Oh come on! Well can I just borrow you hand until you leave? You let me bite you, and that's something married couples do!"

"Really?"

Foxglove wrapped her forelegs around my arm. "Well...no, but it feels good. In a warm down there kinda way." she started pulling my hand down. "Just...let me borrow this for like five minutes."

I resigned myself to exactly five minutes. "I'm setting a time, you have five minutes."

"Really!?" Foxglove tightened around my arm, I felt her breasts sandwich my hand as she pulled me down. I sat on the floor next to her as she took control of my hand.

I was stuck staring at the cribs as she abused my hand. "Okay...one more stipulation, not here. Not in front of the foals."

Foxglove picked her head up. "They won't remember...."

"And I don't care, not in here." I stood up and looked around. "Either find a private place or I'm gonna go home and take a nap."

"A nap!? Are you kidding me!? I'm litterinally throwing myself at you, on you, and...something else, and you want to go take a nap!?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah you're right...I should bring Wayne."

Foxglove was slowly filled with rage as she scrunched up her muzzle. "Colt cuddler!"

"Truely." I joked as I plucked the still feisty colt from his crib. "Don't you, auuughruagh, me!" I grabbed his face and shook him ever so softly before popping off and holding my hand in an aggressive pose over his head. "God I love this little guy...."

Foxglove bit my leg hard before pacing around me. "Love me damn it! Love me!" Foxglove stood in front of me and made as puppy dog a face as possible. "Please?"

That final stare tugged at my heartstrings. "Jesus...calm down. Meet me at that Russian bar tomorrow. We'll get drinks and see where the night takes us."

"You mean it?"

"I mean it, now I'm gonna go home, cuddle the shit outta this colt, and take a nap." I started walking out, finding a blanket and wrapping the bitey green foal like a burrito.

"....Really?"

I snapped around at Foxglove. "Keep it up and you'll end up like this!" I held the burritoed bat over my head.

Foxglove took a defensive pose. "Don't threaten me with a good time!"

"Bitch I will fuck you so hard!"

"I'll suck your life out!"

"I'll ride you so hard."

"You're nice and meaty, a lot to sink my teeth into."

We both had a short time before we each started laughing. "That got a little hot." I settled Wayne into my arms. "So you coming?"

Foxglove let out a soft sigh. "I can't sleep alone anymore.... Remember when I said chewing was a bad habit...I can't go to sleep without it."

I held the door for her. "You're like a foal...a foal breastfeeding foals. Oh the irony. The big titted irony."

We walked through the halls, bat ponies all heading to sleep as the sun rose. One inparticular met me as we left. "Ben...so are we-" she let out a long yawn. "-still on for breakfast?" Datura, in all her glorious purple headed glory, and I had been talking about going out for breakfast for a while.

"Ben...the fuck?" Foxglove bit my arm and refused to let go.

Datura shook her head. "With Foxglove? Hmm, good to know. No Foxglove, I'm not planning to steal your colt, I'm helping him with the change."

I nodded, trying to pry the sharp fanged mare off my arm. "I met her on my day off- night, off."

Datura laughed girlishly. "He was wandering like a zombie in the middle of the street."

Foxglove slowly let go of my arm. "Datura...I'm gonna say this once, he's mine. Talk if you want, hang out if you want, but if I smell you on him, you won't live to regret it." Foxglove to my arm in her mouth. "Now come on."

I stalled as long as I could, I knew what lay ahead, a night of being a pair of ponies chew toy for a night. "Datura- I'll- call- brunch!" before I could finish I was yanked out of the room.

Foxglove refused to let go of my hand the entire time we walked to my house. Even as I hopped in the shower she prowled outside the door, snapping back on my hand as I walked out. "Want...." was all she could managed as she pulled me into the bed and curled around my hand, gnawing and enjoying the taste of my blood as Wayne tried to crawl out of his burrito.

"Hey Foxglove...shouldn't he be flying by now?" I asked as I watched him wiggle free. Foxglove ignored me, too busy cooing and grumbling softly as she chewed on my arm. "I guess it'll happen when it happens." I laid back as Wayne found his new sport on my neck.

I ignored the slight sting and drifted away as the bats suckled at my arm and neck. A final scratch behind Wayne's head was enough to send me to sleep.

Blaah

A loud banging started threatening to tear down my door. "Ben you mother fucker!" Foxglove's livid voice cried from the other end of the door. "You fucking stand me up, you prick ass prick!" I ran over and threw the door open. "Son of a bitch!" she ran inside and headbutted me, knocking me to the floor. She took an aggressive pose above me. "Asshole, douche bag, cunt!"

I opened my mouth, lolling my tongue out. "Halp...I cann baarly taalk."

Foxglove leaned her head over my own. "Ben what the hell!?"

I took the disgusting initiative and slurped my disturbingly long tongue back into my mouth. It was horrid, like sucking a fleshy pasta noddle back into my mouth. "I wook up like dis...halp!"

Foxglove put her hoof on my stomach and pressed hard, forcing my mouth open and revealing my tongue. "Sweet shit snacks...that's...holy fuck." she was nearly drooling as she stared at my disdained tongue. "Dear Luna...Ben...I'm really wet right now."

"Groos." I rolled my tongue back into my mouth and got to my knees. "Cun you halp?"

Foxglove let out a husky laugh. "Ooh- define help."

"Oh phuck off." I got to my feet and headed to my door. "I'm gonnna go- short this oout."

"No!" Foxglove bolted to my door and blocked the way. "Give it time...I'm sure it'll work out."

I tried to push past her, but she was holding her own and keeping me locked in my apartment. "Seriuoous moove!"

"There's no- need- to bother- the princess!" she continued to block my way, going as far as flying up and kicking me back into the room. "Just let me look, I might not be a doctor but you'd be surprised what the foals can do to themselves!"

"I'am not a puchking foal!" I tossed her to the side and charged out.

"I said I'll take care of it!" Foxglove tackled me, biting my neck and dragging me back into my apartment. I felt like a dead deer as I was dragged along the floor. Foxglove let me go and closed my door. "Dear Luna you're heavy."

I rubbed the back of my neck and looked around. "Biiach...." I forced my tongue back in my mouth and laid on the floor. "Fucking- oh haaugh....fuck. I goot F down...."

"Yes...yes you do...way down." Foxglove rolled me onto my back. "Stick that thing...brr- out." she was obviously having trouble containing her joy. "Dear Luna...this is...this is good...really...really...good."

"Fuck off ya hoorny fuck!" I pushed her off. "Goou find ah hoooker."

"Hey don't judge me! Look at that thing...it's like...awesome! Can you control it?"

I stuck my tongue out and tried to move it. "Shoorta." I had maybe fifty percent control at this point. I had a horrible struggle to just roll my tongue back into my mouth. Once I looked back up I was greeted by a slobbering batmare. "Sherioushly?"

"Maaa, maaa...." Foxglove smacked her lips hungrily. "Dear baby Luna's ass.... Can you lean down?"

"Notta chanchs." My tongue rolled out again. I gave up and started biting it. "Shtupid- ting!" I gnawed on my tongue and shook my head.

I went to pull my tongue back into my mouth when Foxglove flew at me, her wings snapping back as she latched onto my tongue. She moaned loudly as she hung her weight off of my tongue. I dropped to a knee to keep her from biting through my tongue. Foxglove was moaning, squealing and sucking on my tongue. All rather erotic, if I could feel the lower half of my tongue.

As of now all I could feel was a massive pain in the base of my tongue from Foxglove's sudden assault. "Aavin' fuun?"

Foxglove just ignored me and continued to suck on my horridly meaty tongue. She was blushing heavily and I could feel her tongue gracing the non-numb half of my tongue. She was obviously too involved to listen to me so I just closed my mouth and picked her up. I held her chest to chest with me and walked her over to my couch. I set her down and turned on the TV, resigning my numb tongue to being her plaything while I watched TV.

I jacked up the volume as her moans and coos grew too loud. I contemplated biting through my tongue to just let her have it, but by now I would have to pry her off me. She couldn't keep this up for much longer.

She proved me wrong and thirty minutes later she finally dragged her tongue, wrapped around my tongue, out and trailed an amazingly strong trail of saliva between us. "Ha...ha...ha...fuuuah!" she let out a feminine growl as she licked her lips. "That was...good...really...really...really good."

I shrugged and slurped my tongue back into my mouth.

Foxglove shook her flushed face hard. "What!?" she shoved me into the arm of my couch. "Fucker, were you just ignoring me!?"

Once again I shrugged. "I caane fel ma tongue."

Foxglove grew bitter. "You gotta be shitting me, nothing!?" I shook my head and watch the TV. "I was literally letting you fuck my mouth with your tongue and you couldn't feel a thing!?"

"Nup."

"Son of a bitch...." Foxglove laid down beside me. "Well it was good for me." she crossed her forelegs and huffed. "Like a...uh...like nothing I've ever sucked on before."

"Well taat naarows it dun."

"Oh fuck you mumble mouth!" Foxglove laid back and kicked me. "What good is that thing if you can't fucking feel it!? I mean...it's meaty and slimy and hot...and...and...huh...you should probably wash this sofa later."

"Greaat." I shoved my foot under her backside and lifted her off my couch. "Doo ya know h-w haard it ish too g-t tha cuushns baack on?!"

Foxglove just burst out laughing. "Just stop talking, please."

I glared at her and tossed a pillow under her now damp lower body. It seemed bats had taken to wearing panties just like everypony else, but her shade of grey was just different enough from her panties to make it noticeable from close up. That, and the growing wet spot where her vagina was bleeding through the thin fabric.

"So...how long is your tongue now? Like...can you--" I opened my mouth and let my tongue roll out, reaching about an inch past my chin. "Oh sweet butts, mama like." Foxglove let her mouth flop open and flicked her tongue. "So uh...how much of that beast can you control?"

I rolled my eyes and tried to flex my tongue. It felt like someone had tacked on a meaty slug to the tip of my tongue.

Foxglove was once again inching closer, about to latch onto my tongue. I pulled my mouth away and slurped my tongue again. Foxglove stared in awe before melting into my lap. "Ahh-ahhh-...do that again." I shook my head and leaned back on my couch. "Well then I have another question."

"Shooot."

"Can I fuck it?" I glared at her and stood up. "So that's a no!? Well I'm came so I'm gonna count this as third base!" I ignored her and went into my room, locking the door and watching TV in there.

"Hey so...we still had a date!" Foxglove started banging on my bedroom door. "Hello?" I didn't answer. "Fine, I'm just gonna tell everypony that we fucked!" still I didn't answer. "Ben? You still in there?! I'll do it you know!" My doorknob started going crazy. "Please? Pretty please? Boobs, tongue, anything?"

"Gow howm!" I yelled, throwing a shoe at my door.

"Come on! Humans like boobs right!?" Foxglove started scratching at my door. "Come on...I'll just...I'm gonna masturbate out here then!"

I turned up the volume as, sure enough, she started moaning into the door. "Harder...harder! Mmmm Ben fuck me harder!" She kept at this for about ten minutes before letting out an overdone climaxes and growing silent. After merely a minute she talked again. "Really!? You'd let me clop out here, alone?!" Not wanting to get in a mush mouthed debate I ignored her completely. "Fine then fucker! I'm gonna steal a shirt, go home, and rape that damn shirt!" I heard a loud rustling outside my door followed by a loud thud. She had just tipped my laundry basket and was seriously going to steal one of my shirts.

"Gonna sniff it and think of you...jerk." Foxglove huffed angrily before vacating my home. I peeked out of my bedroom and found my laundry basket on its side and a white collared shirt completely missing.

"Shhit. Ah likd dat shurt." The same moment I finished talking to myself I made another decision. "Ima go shee Lu-na, ten, goona stup talking ta myshelf." I charged outside and towards the castle.

I hailed down a familiar rickshaw and hopped in. "Hey Ben, castle?"

I nodded the my driver and we hurried off. The driver tried to my conversation but I didn't feel like embarrassing myself further. I'd explain later but for now I needed to get my tongue sorted out.

I met a familiar pony singing in the halls. "Oh die frau, die frau, die frau-- oh shit!" Datura tripped over my foot and face planted into the floor. "Owwwww! Ben- hello!" I helped her up and sorted her out. "Sorry...that was unprofessional, did you need something?"

I rolled my tongue out of my mouth again. "Haalp."

"Whoa shit- I mean...that's...huh...that's never happened before." She took to the air and held turned my head. "And that's not fake?"

"Nu-ahh--" she forced her hoof into my mouth and pulled my tongue out. I was never able to comprehend how they grabbed stuff, but it seemed to work.

"Can you move it, because it's alive." Datura quickly let me go and flew off down the hall. She came back with another of their creepy looking bottles. "Here try this." she held the bottle in her hoof for me.

"Nu- wat's innit?"

Datura gave me an annoyed look. "It's tea...just drink it."

I rolled my eyes and took the bottle. "Well ah never know with you, I mean one time it's- oh shit...he-hey look at that!" I was back in full control over my grotesquely long tongue. "Well it's not perfect but I'll take what I got." The numbness had gone but I was now horribly aware my tongue in my mouth. "So...is this gonna shrink?"

Datura started walking out. "I don't know, I'm not a doctor." Datura walked me out. "I just know what to do about a numb tongue."

I stopped her at the main exit. "There something you wanna tell me?"

"Wha- oh- oh no nothing like that! I just...let's stop talking about this okay?"

"Fine...well...I'm gonna go pick up some...gro-ce-ries." I mumbled as I spotted Foxglove wearing one of my shirts, dancing around in the background and rubbing herself with my shirt. Datura spotted what I was staring at and just started laughing at me.

"Oh dear L-Luna ahaha-- I don't-" she started snickering. I let out a few choice curses and walked off. I needed to do my chores and I didn't need a snickering pair of bat ponies laughing at me.

Papers

"Ben...how are you feeling?" Datura asked as she pranced around me. "Because let me tell you something...you look fabulous."

I looked in the mirror she gave me and felt my head. "Man...I'm fucking pale.... Is that permanent?"

Datura nodded and sat on her haunches. "Yes...it's permanent. I keep telling you that. Honestly you have nothing to complain about, no vestigial tail, no mono brow, no fur, nothing abnormal!"

I lolled my tongue out. I slurped it back up and chewed on it. "That's still kinda weird."

Datura nodded as she pulled her lower lip into her mouth. "Um...how far inside someone could you fit that? Like...how uh...how much control do you have."

"Datura, shut up."

"Okay...." She cracked a wide smile and backed up. "I'm sure Foxglove will love it."

I nodded and stretched out. "So you have the papers?"

Datura's cheeky smile quickly faded. "Are you sure about this? I mean, it's kinda sudden."

I nodded. "There was a few hours where I thought I was gonna die. I decided then, and in retrospect I really shouldn't have listened to myself, but yeah my mind's made up."

"Well...you know I have to tell Luna...and she's gonna wanna celebrate...and she gets kinda grabby with the guards so...dear Luna, bring Foxglove."

"Well I--"

"Make sure she's drunk, because she will fight princess Luna herself over you!" Datura squeaked out a cheerful squeal as she bounded around the room. "Oh, my, god!"

I stared at the giddy mare as she bounced around. "You know. Your friend came by again, you were all calm and polite and everything. What happened?"

She tried to stop herself, jamming her forelegs into the carpet in the room. "What!?" she slammed face first into the edge of the table. Her purple ponytailed mane tossing itself over her head and onto the table. "Vincent...he uh...we...."

"You fucked didn't you."

She grew red as she propped her upper half onto the table. "He's married now...you know."

"So you did...."

She scrunched up her muzzle and stared angrily at me. "I really don't like you right now."

"That's okay. Now seriously, those papers?"

She turned away, knocking a bottle off the table with her tail. "I'll get them...jerk."

I threw my hands up and picked over the dropped bottle. "It's not like I made fun of you or anything!"

Datura came back, wings flared out. "Yeah but you- well...I guess you didn't...still, screw you."

I threw my arms up. "Really?"

"No one puts Datura in a corner any more! I am a strong independent bat mare and I don't need no stallion to tell me how to live!"

I nodded with a bitter look on my face. "Vince tell you that?"

Datura went sour as she stopped her preening. "Just...sign your stupid paper."

"That's what I thought." I scolded her as I signed the adoption forms. "Now are you still coming to celebrate later?"

"Yeah...you know I am."

"Are you gonna sing?"

Datura grew a little red. "Can...can I invite a friend?"

"Sure." I capped the pen she brought me and stood back. "Bring whoever you want."

Datura smiled for a second before folding her wings and looking away. "Ben we're friends right...."

"Right...."

"So...I'm gonna do something shameful, and I don't want you to tell anyone." Before I could question she walked over and dove muzzle first into my groin. She motor boated my member as she made a weirdly pleased sound.

"Whoa...not what I was expecting...."

"Tell no one." Datura gave my thigh a final nuzzle and stepped back. "It's not because it's you. I just...it's been a while...for...any guy."

"Don't you have a kid?"

Datura frowned. "He doesn't count. He's not my kid, he's Luna's. I just helped."

"You had a fucking kid spurt out of you! That's a little more than just helping."

Datura shrugged and started walking out. "It was nine months, no big deal. No one even noticed until the sixth."

I shook my head and lead her outside into the gardens. "I get that, but it's just- did you get like a medal or something?"

"Yeah!" she chirped happily. "I did some reading and you humans have one too!"

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" I asked as sincerely as I could while still expressing my disbelief.

"Luna collects books from this place called Russia. One of the books had something about a war and women earning medals for having kids." She grew a smug smile. "I think it's pretty cool they treat women so great over there."

I lost my composure and started laughing out loud. "Aha- fuck...I can't breath." I felt my throat grow dry as my laughing took my wind. "Oh fuck...holy shit...Russia treating women well...that's...a terrible situation they have there."

"What the fuck are you talking about!? Getting a medal for being a mother is amazi--"

"They gave that medal out because they were pumping out kids to send to war. They just had so many children that they could throw them against the enemy. Hell, at one point I'm pretty sure they had more people than rifles."

Datura took a second to realized what I meant. "Oh- oh dear Luna, that's awful! So what they just- just took the babies to war?"

I tried my best not to laugh, only managing a few seconds before the imaginary of a baby soviet broke my composure. "Fucking...ahahahaha- with the little helmet."

"Ben are you laughing at me!?"

"No...no...yes, you're fucking hilariou-- ow- why?" Datura sank her teeth deep into my leg. "Seriously?"

"Don't laugh at me! Last war in Equestria was about two hundred years ago, and it end with like one dead pony who fell off a watchtower. Both sides disarmed the same day too!"

I shook my head. "No, not that. Just...babies in world war two would be tragically hilarious. No, they grew up, then went to war."

"Oh...that's not much better."

I stopped laughing and sank my gaze to the floor. "No...it's really not." I looked around the gardens. "Let's go grab Wayne and get some lunch. I got work in a few hours."

"Finally off leave?" Datura asked as she flapped her wings and lifted off the ground. "Lazy bastard."

"Oh sorry, just turn me into a bloody bat person and send me back to the grinding wheel, it's fine!"

"Don't bitch at me you git!"

"Don bitch ah me ya ah meh ma."

"Ben Datura...knock it off...." A guard yelled sourly as he walked past. "I swear."

I stared at the stallion as he wandered off. "I bet he takes it up the ass like a champ."

"Probably.... But hey look at you, single parent, turning down a lusty mare, pale, petite--"

"Don't call me petite." I snapped angrily. "And this kid is too adorable for somebody else. And plus...when he's old enough I am going to make references out the ass."

"Oh yes...to batman."

I stopped dead as she flew past. "How the fuck do you know batman?"

Datura landed on the top of a shrub. "I went to New York a few months ago, cultural studies program. I gotta tell you, joining the musicians guild has just been amazing."

"I bet entering your mom would be amazing."

"I bet your dad has a small dick."

"You're not wrong. Luckily I got my mother's--"

"Dick? Were you about to say dick?" Datura asked as she started laughing. "Such a big boy, all grown up with his mothers wang."

"You're a terrible steward."

Datura let out a single laugh. "I stopped being a steward when I joined the guild. Now I'm just me, awesome mare extraordinaire."

"Uh huh...Vince call you that?" Datura looked up with an angry expression on her face. "Alright calm down." I plucked her statue like body from the top of the shrub and put her on my shoulder. "You really liked him didn't you."

"Ben, I'm gonna give Foxglove the key to your apartment and drug you. I'll make sure Wayne won't have to watch that carnage."

"Eh. She's been humping my leg since she went into heat. So that's been going on for about three days already. I knew it was coming for a while now." We stopped talking as we headed towards the nursery, my future child and pissed of pseudo girlfriend waiting inside.

Sneak Attack

I walked back into the nursery of the Lunar Halls. "Foxglove, I'm officially back." I walked into the dark room and looked around. "Uh...hello?"

I walked around the cleared out front room and tried to figure out what happened. The cribs were gone, the foals were missing, everything was gone but the carpet. "Foxglove? Luna? Datura--"

"Heechu" A short sneeze came from above. I felt myself grow extremely nervous as I started looking up into the rafters. Foxglove was wedged between two cross beams, staring down on me.

"Oh shit...." I mumbled to myself as Foxglove grew an extremely wide smile.

She dropped out of the rafters like a lead weight, catching my neck and toppling me to the floor, landing back down on the soft carpet. I was face first in Foxglove's backside as she sat on my face. "It's happening, Ben, it's happening...." She grumbled needily as she leaned back, pressing her backside into my face. "I heard- about Wayne- tongue- face--" Foxglove started moaning as she ground her sex against my face. "Come on...please, you deserve it...."

I pushed Foxglove's ass off my face. "What- the fuck!?" I yelped out, quickly being silence by Foxglove forcing her rump back onto my face.

"No, you fucking do it! I was waiting up there for hours, you do this for me, I'll--" She started fumbling with my belt. "I- I'm gonna bite through this stupid thing!" She started tugging at my belt as she pressed her sex against my lips. I kept my mouth closed as she tried to wiggled herself around on my face. "Oh come on, just try it! We sleep together, we- you...have a foal...I take care of foals...we're friends...we've been friends, come on! I want this, why don't you!?"

I tried to speak, as soon as my mouth was open Foxglove jammed herself back and filled my mouth with a rather harsh flavor of cinnamon. My brain went nuts at this sudden revelation. I was torn between curiosity and pent up sexual frustration, and a complete desire not to be dominated by a mare half my size.

I pressed my tongue against her sex, trying to force her out of my mouth and getting another flavorful lick of her rather appetizing pussy. Foxglove let out a pleased moan as she shredded my belt with her teeth. "Se-ee, we could be so- happy--" Her voice shattered as My long tongue curled over itself and jammed against her lips, spreading her and hitting her moist insides.

I gave up as the heady smell of sex and the taste of her juices overtook my better senses. I shifted my hands from pushing her away to pulling her against my head. I decided there were truly worse fates then being forcibly ridden by a decent looking mate, and my actions might have been overtly leading her on. This was inevitable.

Foxglove's breathy moans quickly turned to loud squeaks and hisses as I pressed my tongue against her entrance, the added muscle mass and control making it like something out of a cheap Japanese porno. I had grown someone numb to the fact my tongue was longer, but the added control and force made each and every inch of my tongue extremely useful, slurping along her flower and jamming the sharpened tip of my tongue against her entrance.

My tongue grew, what I could only call, slimy as Foxglove's liquids spilled out and coated my tongue in a robust flavor. It felt disgustingly slippery, animalistic, dirty, and I enjoyed it. Foxglove locked up as I started trying to force my tongue inside of her. Her words turned to needy babble as I felt the flesh of my tongue squeeze past her hole and inside her.

"Dear- Lunaaa--" She clenched her inner walls around my tongue, smacking the top of my head with her tail. Her sex, expecting something solid, squeezed my tongue, letting it conform near perfectly with her insides. The fleshiness of my tongue making it perfect for touching every unexplored ridge and contour, going places a solid muscle just couldn't reach.

The feeling of her muscles squeezing my tongue as it slid deeper and deeper into her was amazing, Every inch of my tongue was jammed against her, a constant taste of cinnamon spice filled my senses, and a constant squeeze of my tongue as it slid in and out of her made me work just hard enough to my the tactile sense of forcing my meaty tongue through her fleshy hole simply euphoric.

The overly organic feeling of the situation reduced my brain to a single minded machine. Feel more heat, feel more squishyness, taste more flavor. I became a machine, working my tongue in and out of her tight hole and letting her juices flow down the base of my tongue. Even when she clamped down hard enough to stop my movements I kept trying, jamming myself up inside her and making her twitch and kick as she squirted over my tongue. "Dear fucking Luna's ghost!" Foxglove screamed shrilly as she came, stifling herself by taking my clothed bulge into her mouth and clamping down.

I felt myself stain my boxers as Foxglove lapped at my head through the thin cloth. I left my tongue inside her as I went limp, my overstimulated mind too lost to fully enjoy the sudden ejaculation Foxglove was slurping up.

Eventually Foxglove tried to stand, her legs shaking violently as she pulled herself away, my tongue sliding out of her and flopping against my chin. She stood for a second before loosing her balance and sitting down on my chest. "My legs won't stop shaking." She laughed nervously. "Ben, Ben, my legs won't stop."

I set her next to me and sat upright. Foxglove quickly fell to her side and started crying, her wings wrapping her body up. "Ben...Ben I need you...I need you right now."

I picked her off the floor, laying her across my lap and dragging my damp body to a wall. "It's okay-" I slurped my wet tongue back into my mouth. "It's okay...." I sat her upright and pulled her against my chest. "Don't cry."

Foxglove buried her face in her wings. "Ben...are we together? I need to know if we're together...."

"You've been sleeping in my bed...you've helped me through my, change, and we just- yes...yes we're together."

"Can I bite you!?" She asked, her voice extremely panicked. "I need to Ben, I need to right now!"

I forced my hand into her wing cocoon and felt her latch on. She bit and suckled at the inside of my thumb, sinking her teeth into my palm and calming down. Her whimpers died down as she continued to suckle and chew. "Ben...we have everything."

"What?"

Foxglove peeked out of her little cocoon, eyes bloodshot from her sudden emotional release. "Ben, I've got everything. They're moving us to a big building down the street, a bunch of humans donated a bunch of money and time, I have you, you have Wayne, everything's amazing."

I smiled softly at her. "Is that why this place is empty?"

"Mmmhmm."

I curled my free hand around her head, cradling her against my chest. "Then why are you crying?"

"Because everything's amazing you dumbass!" She snapped at me, throwing my hand out of her wings. "Now hug me and tell me you love me!"

Bouncing Bat Butts

A loud knock came from my door as I set Wayne on the floor of his room. "Alright buddy, guess she's here."

"Raaauau!" Wayne cooed loudly as he flapped his wings, dragging him across the floor as he did.

"I- that's...alright, whatever works for you." I walked out of his padded room, leaving him to scoot around the floor with his wings. "Good lad...I think."

I walked through my freshly furnish apartment and towards the door. I opened the door, revealing Foxglove standing awkwardly. "Ben...hi."

I smiled widely, our previous agreement sealing her fate for the day. "Foxglove...come in."

Foxglove took a deep breath and stepped inside. "Oh wow...Ben, what is all this?" She ran about my living room, looking at my new furniture and decor. "When did you do all this!?"

I looked at my new sofa as Foxglove crawled atop it. "I had a lot of free time while I was waiting for my leave and the paperwork to finish."

Foxglove went nuts. "I- can I look around before we--"

"Sure, go ahead. I'll show you around." Foxglove brightened up as I started leading her around my house. "Kitchen." I turned on the lights to my simple dark grey kitchen.

"Dear Luna, how- how did you afford all this!?"

"Government mismanagement." I crossed my arms and leaned against the archway as she looked at the modestly fancy kitchen. "The company that sent me here went under, I got a huge settlement when they liquidated."

"That's so lame!" Foxglove complained as she poked my blender. "How does a company turn to water!?"

I shook my head. "That's...uh, I guess I'll explain it later. Come on, best room time."

Foxglove glared at my blender, bopping it with her hoof and stepping off the counter. She followed me towards Wayne's room. I carefully opened the door and stepped inside. Foxglove peeked her head in and went sour faced. "This is crap...this is better than my room!"

Wayne bolted upright as he Spotted Foxglove. Her dove under her stomach and started looking under her hips. I tried not to laugh as Foxglove's muzzle scrunched up like crazy. "Is he--"

"Yep." Foxglove reached back at her bra straps, the cloth color matching her coat amazingly well. She dropped her bra to the floor and let Wayne go to work. "I- ow! Little ass!" Foxglove's leg kicked out as she fed Wayne. "He fucking bit me!"

"Yeah...he does that." I laughed wryly as she tried not to yelp.

"Okay, okay, it's enough!" She flew off the ground, breaking away from Wayne and hovering heavily in the air. "You know we're supposed to be weening him right!?" She rubbed her nipples as Wayne tried to fly after her.

Wayne angrily bounced at her, trying to get enough lift with his wings to catch her. He growled angrily as I found a pacifier and popped it into his mouth. I held him in place as he started chewing. Little by little he went more and more docile until finally he slumped over in my arms and lingered on the edge of sleep. "I know, I bought like ten of these things, he's killed like five already!"

Foxglove fluttered down next to me and folded her wings. She watched as I set Wayne down in his crib. "He's- aww...he doesn't look like the little monster he is.... Has he said anything?"

"He's asked for you, like mama."

Foxglove gasped, holding her hooves to her face. "Really!?"

"No, he's just been babbling." I deadpanned.

"Oh...wow...you're an asshole." Foxglove stated angrily. "That's really not funny."

"It was to me, now, speaking of assholes...you showered yet?"

Foxglove's ears folded back. "No...but Ben, do we have to?"

"You fucked my face! You hid in the rafters, dropped down, and fucked my face!" I crossed my arms. "Yes, you owe me this."

Foxglove looked hurt. "But- I mean...it didn't taste bad...I could just--"

"Nope, go shower I'll get things ready in the bedroom."

Foxglove let out a scared yelp as she started walking off. "I- it's gonna hurt...."

"I promise you it won't hurt. And you know what hurt, having you clothesline me from the roof!" I rubbed my neck and pointed to the door. "Now go, the showers nice, warm water instantly."

Foxglove grumbled to herself as she walked off. Wayne cooed quietly as he struggled in his crib. I walked over and peered into the crib, gently tugging at the pacifier. "Nuh!" Wayne yelped as the pacifier slid free from him. "No!"

I stood stunned for a few moments, highly confused by what I just heard. "Did--"

"No!"

I stared down at Wayne, his hazel eyes staring angrily at me. "Wayne...can- dad?"

"No!" Wayne struggled free of his blanket and flew out of his crib, landing face first on the soft carpet below. "No!" he scrambled to his hooves and bolted wobbly away.

I scratched my head as Wayne dragged a blanket under a table and hid in the corner. "First words were backtalk, that's-- Kid, you confound me."

Wayne stared at me from behind his hiding place. "No...bad...."

I threw my hand up and stared at him. "Really?" I walked over and ducked down next to him. I reached under the table and started reaching for him.

"Noooo!" Wayne yelled as I got a grip on his back. He bit my arm hard as I scooped him out from under the table.

"Really!? You want milk?"

Wayne stopped dead, teeth scratching my skin. He stared at me as he nibbled at my arm. "Yess!"

"Wayne wants milk?"

"Yess!" His voice had a decent rasp to it. "Yess, yess!"

"Let's get some milk." I carried Wayne out and towards the kitchen. I poured a bottle for him and popped it in the microwave. Wayne watched it spinning for the five seconds I put it in and started babbling. I capped the bottle and held it for him as he greedily drank. "Huh...gonna have to switch to pastes soon."

"Yeah...." Foxglove mumbled as she stepped into the room, the smell of fruit preceding her arrival. "He could probably just go to meat soon."

I looked at her. Her dampened mane was nearly knee height, and her tail was raised high to keep it from laying on the floor. "Wow...how long is your hair!?"

Foxglove forced her mane back. "I had to use two towels. And it's not that long, it's just--really dense."

"It's almost on the floor!" I yelled as I started taking Wayne back to his room. "When's the last time you cut it?"

"Uuuuh, a few years ago." I stared angrily at her. "What, when do you cut yours!?"

"I cut my a week ago!"

"What!? But, you're like us now, grow it out!" Foxglove yelled angrily, her mane slapping her in the face. "This is why I don't shower often...."

I set Wayne down and pulled the bottle free. He knocked out instantly with a belly full of warm milk. "Jesus, follow me." I lead her towards the bathroom and found a new box. "So are you moving in or not? Because if you're not yet, you can take this with you."

"Take wha--" She stopped dead as a rush of hot air blasted her in the face. "Ben, what the fuck!?" She backed into the door as I dried her off with the blow dryer. "Ben, stop!"

"What?" I feigned deafness and continued to dry her. "You look great!"

"Aaaaaaaah!" Foxglove yelled as I finished with her mane. She stood angrily as her mane poofed out like crazy. "Ben, fuck you!"

I dried her tail quickly and watched as she went frizzy. "Whoa, check that out."

"Ben you're a prick!" Foxglove yelled as she dampened her hooves and fixed her mane and tail. "I have one, I never use it because this happens!" She pointed her shaking hoof to her head. "Dear Luna I hate you right now."

I shrugged and set it down. "Fine, I just didn't want you to be soggy when we did it." I pulled a bottle of oil from my shelf and pointed to the door. "Now, you ready?"

Foxglove took a deep breath as her spiky mane regained its shape. "That? Really?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

Foxglove scrunched her muzzle up. "I- whatever...I guess it's as good as it's gonna get."

"Well...saliva...."

"Fuck you! One or the other, one or the other, Ben!"

"Fine, fine...it's fine." I ushered her to my room. "I--" I looked at the oil in my hands. "Huh...this could work."

Foxglove was breathing heavily as she prepared herself. "What's gonna wo-wo-wo--" She stumbled as I pressed my oiled hands against her breasts. "Whoa- okay...this...mmmm, alright...I'm okay with this...." Foxglove was nearly purring as my hands massaged her breasts, her nipples rock solid as they dragged against my palms. "Hhhhmmmm, slower...."

I complied, switching to one hand and kneading her breasts, pulling at her nipple as I closed my hand. My other hand was pulling myself out of my jeans. "Feel good?" I asked as she spread her backed into my groin.

Foxglove let out a long soft moan. "Years- of foal abuse- teething- and that fucking bra- I need- this--" She stopped herself as I pushed her off me, placed my member under her sex and between her legs, quickly sliding her back and planting my cock between her breasts. "Uuuugh...." She let out a long groan as I went back to kneading.

I worked myself between her oiled breasts as she continued to mumble. The soft texture of her tender flesh and coat, oiled and freshly washed it felt amazing. I was in bliss as I squeezed her mounds, letting them settled in my hands and form around my fingers as I forced myself between them. "This...is by far...the most shameful, and amazing, thing I've ever done."

Foxglove hummed as she backed against my stomach, her tail parallel with my chest as I slowly split her breasts with my rod. "See...this is so much better...." she trailed off as she relaxed and let me go to work massaging her heavy breasts.

"Much better than what?" I asked as I pushed my head against her soft flesh, parting it with a glorious slimy texture.

Foxglove said nothing, half asleep as I pressed her breasts together, squashing my member between and surrounding it with a warm oily heat and pressure that pushed me closer and closer to the edge.

My breath went shaky as I felt the pressure build in my base. I went a bit lightheaded as a particularly healthy thrust massaged my tip and sealed the deal. I took a deep breath and held back as long as I could. I pushed Foxglove off of my waist, pressing her backside down and snapping her awake. "Ben, what are you--" She stopped dead as I unceramoniously slid my tip into her ass. "Ben, you motherfu--" She stopped again as a small spurt shot inside her. "Gross- gross- gross!" She shreiked as she tried to pull away. "Ben...this is gross...."

I was snarling and grunting as my release was blocked up around her hole. "Come- on-" I felt myself throb and pulse as my body tried to force past the blockage. I felt the dim pain force past my shaft and explode out my tip. I let out a long groan as I went lightheaded and reveled in the feeling of the buildup and eventual pop as I spurted in her ass.

Foxglove just grumbled as I moved my hands back into place, awkwardly hunching over her to keep from jamming my entire cock into her ass. "Well- this...doesn't hurt...I just-" She shivered hard as I sent a final heavy load inside her. "Gross gross gross gross!" She stomped her hooves rapidly as I pulled out. "Groooooss! It's slimy!"

I sat on the carpet and watched as my seed dripped out of her. "Warm and gooey...." I put my hands on my head as I laid back. "Eeeeeugh...I'm gonna take a nap."

"Oh no you're not!" Foxglove walked wobbly over and sat on my chest. "I'm not done! Now hands!"

I stared up at the mare on my chest, her breasts resting against my stomach as she tried not to let on how disgusted she was by my cum coating her ass. I laughed weakly as I grabbed her breasts and pressed and pulled idly. "So...do you...wanna move in?" I asked, calmed by gentle kneading I was imparting.

Foxglove scrunched up her muzzle as she laid down, pinning my hands under her body. "Maybe...no more butt stuff.... But it is closer...and Wayne's here...and you're here...." She smiled cockily. "I'll think about it."

Mini: Rollin'

Wayne struggled free of his cloth tomb. "No!" He wiggled free and jumped out of his crib, landing on the floor and doing a roll as he tumbled. He sat on his diaper for a moment, letting out a confused burble as he looked around.

He rocked back and forth on his ass before rolling forward. Once again he sat confused about what just happened.

He rocked forward, tucking his head and doing a forward roll. He stopped, quickly learning how to replicate it and rolling around the room.

He kicked off with his back legs, tucked his head, and formed as neat a ball as possible. Before long he was rolling around the room, nearly bashing his skull on the walls as he blindly rolled.

"W-Wayne, the hell are you doing?" A smoke filled voice croaked from the door. Ben watched as his adoptive child rolled around the room, his tail flicking over his body as he went ass over head. "Wayne, you are not a ball, stop rolling!"

"What's going- oh...yeah they do that." Foxglove walked in and stared at the young foal as he rolled under the furniture. "Trust me, you'd rather have him rolling than have him flying like a torpedo."

Ben watched in confusion as Wayne rolled over his feet. "Well...when's he gonna stop?"

"Uh...." Foxglove made a, kitchi, noise, catching Wayne's attention. "Can he understand us?"

"You heard what he can say, anyways, I'm gonna go take care of the others, just bring him once he's...you know, not a green projectile."

Foxglove scoffed as she walked over to Wayne. "Green projectile...this is my future baby!" She yelled at no one, Ben was already gone. "Isn't that right."

Wayne just stared at Foxglove as she tried to pick him up. "No!" Wayne yelped as he tried to roll away. Foxglove quickly scooping him up and laying him across her neck.

"You stay-- fuck!" Foxglove jumped as Wayne sank his teeth into her ear. "You are just a little shit!" Foxglove got her ear free and reached her head back. Fighting mouth to mouth, tooth to tooth with Wayne until he settled down. "That's what I thought- ass!" Foxglove craned her head back and bit Wayne by the scruff of his neck.

Wayne wiggled and yelped. "No! Daddy!?"

Foxglove mumbled as she carried the foal in her mouth. "Gunna bite mm- gonna bite ya...." Foxglove shook her head gently as Wayne went docile. "Terrible habit."

Wayne grumbled angrily, trying to bite Foxglove as he was carried towards the Lunar nursery.

Hitting

I sat in the older foal's area, watching them while the other new workers prepared their food. "Ben- Ben- Ben!" A golden maned filly ran over. "Ben...hi."

"Hey sweetie, what's up?" I answered, setting down my magazine and leaning down to her.

The golden maned filly just stared at me. "You're pretty!" She spouted oddly before running off. I was left scratching my head as she bolted off.

"Huh...well that was--" I was stopped as a terrible scream broke the silence.

"Ooooowwwwie!" A foal screamed before bawling loudly. I ran over, grabbing the first aid kit and finding a colt with a cut on his forehead. He was sobbing as he held his hoof to the small cut.

I ducked down next to him and pulled his hoof away. "Scotch!" I moved his mane out of the way and started to clean the cut. "Scotch what happened!?"

"Oleander pushed him off the table!" A grey maned filly ran over and started yelling. "She pushed him off and ran away!"

I put a bandage on Scotch's head and picked him up, rubbing his cut as he curled up in my arms. I knelt down to the grey maned filly. "Lantana, where is she?" I asked calmly, but with fire behind my words. "I need to talk with her."

Lantana was shocked. "Ben...you're...you're being scary...is she in trouble?"

"Big, big trouble. But you did good, you do good." I patted her head as I cradled the softly sobbing colt. Lantana nervously accepted my petting and backed away.

She looked away and started sneaking away. "Okay...I...she ran into the library." Lantana started running away. "Please don't tell her I told!"

I stood up and turned to the Library. I carried the slightly injured colt with me as I searched up and down the bookshelves for the rouge filly. Eventually I spotted a bright blue mane sticking out of a dictionary. I walked slowly over and stared down at the hiding filly. "Oleander...put the book down."

Oleander pretended not to hear, prompting me to pull the book away from her. She stared at the floor as I set the heavy book down. I stared her down until she stood. "Am I--"

"Yes. Big trouble." I leaned down and picked her up by the scruff of the neck. "Big, big trouble." I carried the already mournful filly back into the main room and set Scotch down.

He finished crying and sat watching me as I sat down with Oleander. "Ben...it still hurts."

I put Oleander across my knee and pointed to the door to the infant's area. "Find Foxglove, tell her you hit your head, okay buddy?"

Scotch wiped his face and walked slowly off. "Okay...thank you." He walked off, leaving me and the growing crowd of foals to the business at hand.

I let out a sharp whistle, calling every foal in the room to me. Before too long a crowd of ten young lives surrounded me. "Kids...Oleander pushed Scotch off a table...he started bleeding."

The miniature crowd gasped, quickly talking amongst themselves as I adjusted the soon to be punished filly. "Now normally I would just send you all on your way, but Oleander did it on purpose."

"He pushed me!" She yelled, trying to get free. "He pushed me so I pushed him!"

"Then why were you hiding?" I asked as I flipped the filly's tail up. "Huh?"

Oleander whimpered as I got ready. "He did it first!"

"Maybe, but you shouldn't ever hurt anybody else." I reeled my hand back, bringing it forward and giving the filly a harsh slap on the ass. The room went dead still as I continued to paddle the filly's backside. After maybe thirty seconds of decent paddling I set her down.

She fell to her haunches, quickly standing up and starting to cry. "You hit me!" She screamed as she stood sadly in front of me. "It hurts!"

"Are you gonna push anypony again?"

She took a moment to realize what I meant and nodded furiously. "No, no, no no no!"

"Good." I crossed my arms and pointed her to the door with my socked foot. "Now go apologize."

Oleander snuffled quietly and limped off. Her flank was reddened as she covered herself with her tail. The crowd of foals was absolutely terrified. It was as if they just witnessed an execution. "Kids...you hurt somepony, you get a spanking, got it?" The crowd just mumbled as I stood up. "Got it?"

"Yes Ben!" They yelled in unison.

"Good. Now who's hungry?" I started corralling the mini horses towards the dining area. I held the door for them as they sourly walked into the room. I watched as Scotch and Oleander joined the herd, Oleander holding a pillow as she walked.

"Ben...I need to talk to you, now." Foxglove's voice croaked nervously. "Like right now."

I walked towards her, ducking into the nursery and closing the door behind me. "This is about the kids right."

"Ben...did you hit Oleander?"

"I spanked her, yes." I crossed my arms defensively. "I didn't hit her."

"That's not what she said!" Foxglove yelped as she ran over and put her hooves on my shirt. "Ben, if it gets out you hit a foal--"

"Spanking is not hitting...."

Foxglove pushed off me. "Okay then...what's spanking?"

I put my hands up and closed my eyes. "Wait...what?"

"She said you hit her, you're saying you spanked her, so what's the difference?!" She demanded with a stomp of her hoof. "Ben you can't--"

I cut her off. "You don't know what spanking is?"

"No...so you gonna--"

"Really? You've never spanked a kid? You've worked with them a long time, but--" I shook my head. "Alright...you take your hand- oh...I guess...that does make sense." I held my hand up flat. "Okay, flat, bare, hand."

"Right...you look like you're gonna slap me."

I shook my head. "Open hand, you give their backside a quick smack. Not hard, but enough to sting."

"So you hit her...that's not okay--"

I found a seat and sat back. "Foxglove...come here."

Foxglove glared at me. "You're gonna hit me? That's--"

"Just do it...."

Foxglove took a deep breath and walked over. "You hit me and--" I cut her off and picked her up, spinning her around and putting her across my lap. "What the--" She stopped dead as I filpped up her tail and gave her a testing slap. "You pervert! You did that to a--" She stopped dead as I slapped her flank in scale to how I would disiplin a foal. "Ow! Be- Ow!" Foxglove stopped dead as I paddled her. "Ben sto--" She stopped a final time and let me finish with a final tap. "Ow...Ben...ow." She sounded hurt as I set her down. "You did that to a filly?"

"I did that, made sure she knew why, and made her go apologize."

Foxglove tried to sit, quickly jumping up as the pain in her flank became apparent. "Owwww! Dear Luna, Ben, that's- ow...."

I shrugged. "Hurts don't it?"

"Yes!" Foxglove yelled as she rubbed her flank. "It hurts a lot!"

"It'll last a few minutes, it gets the point across, and it's only for a few minutes." Foxglove stared unconvinced. "You want me to prove it works!? Come on." I picked her up and carried her to where the foals were eating.

"Scotch!?" I called out. "Scotch can I talk to you?"

A ginger colt walked over slowly. "Yeah?"

"How's Oleander, she bug you?"

He rubbed his head. "No."

"Did she apologize?" He nodded. "Did she sound like she meant it?"

Scotch tapped his hooves on the ground. "She sounded sad."

I set Foxglove down and shooed Scotch. I walked her to the blue maned filly as she adjusted herself on her butt pillow. "Oleander."

She perked up, folding her ears as she turned around. "Y-yes?"

"You okay?" I asked calmly, a bit of sugar to my voice.

She looked at her lunch. "Yeah...sorry."

"I know sweetie...I'm sorry too, but you can't be pushing each other, Scotch got hurt and only bad fillies hurt ponies." I leaned next to her. "Bad fillies get spanked, are you a bad filly?"

Oleander shook her head. "No! I'm a good filly, I promise."

I nodded thankfully. "Good, good fillies get rewards." I backed up and went into the kitchen. I found a sweetie and brought it to her. I set it down on her plate. "You apologized, and you meant it." I rubbed her head as she stared at the wrapped sweet on her plate. I turned to the gawking crowd. "Remember kids, good foals get rewards, bad foals get spanked. Okay?"

The room mumbled their responses as I lead Foxglove out. She stopped me when we were along. "Okay...but...I still don't like it." She shook her head. "Putting your hand on a foal...it doesn't feel right."

I shrugged. "Odds are I won't have to do it again. She got the short end of the stick being first, but now whenever they're misbehaving I have an ace in the hole." I nodded curtly. "Just trust me."

Foxglove scratched her head. "I do trust you...I hired you, but it was...I don't- Just be careful Ben."

I rolled my eyes. "It's not for everyone. Some people think it screws with kids, but it's about how you use it." I scratched my face. "I'm not planning to go around swatting the foals about, but if somebody starts bleeding I'm gonna have to step in."

"I- fine...you're an adult...I signed off on the adoption forms for Wayne...."

I let my arms fall to my sides. "Uh huh, now let me ask something. Your butt still hurt?"

Foxglove went stiff, feeling around her backside. "I- alright...fine, you can stop. I get it."

"Oh no you don't...remember what I said about bad fillies?" I put my arm around her neck. "And you're usually quite a naughty filly."

"I uh...Ben...that's a joke right...right...Ben?" Foxglove sputtered as I moved her towards the bathroom. "Ben...Ben stop...Ben!" I scooped her up and carried her into the bathroom. A quick bout of light domination and spanking and my day was complete.

Foxglove fixed her mane in the mirror as I checked the door. "Ben...we're gonna get fired like this."

"Eh...worth it."

Foxglove turned to me. "Eh, really? I mean, I agree, totally worth it. But you could show some emotion."

"I did show emotion...put all that emotion into you."

"That was lame." Foxglove scrunched her muzzle up and turned away. "We have work to do...."

Mini: Representation

I sighed as I pulled my collared shirt on. I tucked it in and found my dress vest, donning it and straightening out my outfit. "Foxglove, this look okay?"

Foxglove peeked into my room, past the boxes of her things and right at my groin. "Ben...I love human's...you might be assholes...you might be evil soulless killing machines, you might be sexy amazing, lunatics and bitchy pussies, but you humans know how to dress." She walked in and walked around me. "You don't feel overdressed?"

"It's a meeting...it's kind of important." I fixed my cuffs and dusted off my pants. "I did get elected."

"I've been meaning to ask about that...how'd you get elected?"

I shrugged and let out a long yawn, my body not accustomed to the morning. "I'm representing Luna's human subjects. I got...like five votes out of ten."

"How? I never--"

"I have human friends!" I snapped, putting my socked foot on her backside and pushing her out of my way. "There are literally dozens of us, dozens! But only like ten voted...."

Foxglove hopped up my bed as she let out a long yawn. "So...how'd they- aaaueo- ahh." She let out a feminine squeak as her yawn forced itself out. "Geez...too early. Anyways...if they voted...why'd they vote for you?"

"Cause no one else wanted to." I got my good shoes on and made sure I was ready. "No one else wanted to wake up this early."

Foxglove was nodding off as I talked to her. "See, I'll believe that. Ten a.m. sucks...bad."

"Yeah...I know...coffee done?" I asked as I leaned into the doorway.

"Y-yeaaaaaaaah." Foxglove was struggling to stay awake.

I nodded, thanking her and checking on Wayne before I left. He was curled up in his new pen, splayed out on his stomach with his tail shooting out and covering the bottom of the crib in green hair. "Aw...I wish I could keep him- oh wait, I can!" I joked to myself as I plucked his limp body out of the pen and cradled him.

I carried him to my room, finding Foxglove knocked out and face first into a pillow. "Lightweights." I grumbled as I tucked my green baby under Foxglove's forelegs. She curled up around him, hugging him like a stuffed animal and cuddling against him. "Aww, that's nice...saccharine, but nice."

I tossed a blanket over them and tucked them in. I'd be joining them as soon as I was done representing all thirty of my people. I had a small civic duty to sit through a senate meeting, however terrible.

I tore through the streets of Canterlot, eager to sit down and get started. I was stopped at the front gate to the castle, quickly handing my paperwork over and getting sent through. I ran towards the castle, stepping inside and finding a bat pony standing in the entry.

"Benjamin...hello." A blue maned stallion with glasses stood proud before me. "Are you ready?"

"Boxwood...hey, which way?"

Boxwood led me through the empty halls and into yet another chamber. I plopped down in a chair surrounded by other diverse humans and waited until a grey maned pony walked into the center of the room.

"Hello everyone, thank you for coming for the inaugural Equestrian senate meeting!" The grey mare shouted as she threw her hooves out. The room burst into a short bout of clapping as the mare started sorting out a few pieces of paper. "Alright, I'm Ms. Mare, and let's get started."

A man stood up, his attire rather western. "Appleloosa joint species representative requesting the floor."

The mare nodded deeply, letting everyone see. The Appleloosan rep walked out of the bleachers we were stuck in and lopped over to the podium. He pulled a few papers from his case and donned a pair of smart looking glasses. "We of the township of Appleloosa hereby request government aid in the purchase of raw steel, smokeless powder, copper and brass, for the purpose of piping, replacing damaged rails, bullet manufacturing, agricultural equipment, and assorted building materials such as screws and nails."

The mare in charge took the podium. "All those in favor say, aye."

A resounding aye filled the room from the right side, ponies and humans alike agreeing.

"All opposed say, nay."

A few ponies and a man in a tie opposed.

"All abstaining?" I watched as a few people raised hoof and hand, I joined them and watched as the mare looked around. "Motion carries!" She smacked a gavel on her podium and took a deep breath. "This is so exciting...I can actually do stuff!"

The room bustled as the rep from Appleloosa rejoined the ranks. The mare collected herself and drew all our attention. A regal looking mare stood up. "Canterlot noble, Fleur De Lis requests the floor."

"Granted!" Fleur strolled calmly towards the podium, levitating out a single folded letter.

I took a deep breath as I waited for the mare to put forth her undoubtedly selfish proposal. "Ladies and Gentlecolts, I wish to draw your attention to the recent influx of human immigrants. My house, and our constituents wish to establish a boarding house for those unable to find housing, built in Canterlot to effectively stamp out Equestria's budding homeless issue. We propose a modest tax increase from our human citizens in exchange for eventual relocation and integration into the rapidly growing country of Equestria."

I snapped to attention as I realized exactly what her proposal meant. Equestria was suffering from a small homeless issue, and while many recent arrivals could count on the community, having an actual place to have them stay would be invaluable.

The grey mane took to the podium. "All in favor?"

Most of the ponies and a few of the humans, myself included, let out a resounding aye.

"All opposed?"

The western looking reps and a few humans let out a loud nay.

"All abstaining?"

Two ponies and a rather heavy women raised their hands.

"Motion carries!" Another smack from her gavel.

I settled in as the proposals went by, most of little importance compared to the first two. A few hours after the excruciatingly long meeting we were dismissed. I gave an exhausted kiss to Luna's flag as I left, stumbling home and crashing into the front door as night fell.

A bedraggled Foxglove and Wayne hurried over to me as my feet hung out the front door. "Ben, how was the meeting?"

I let out a long groan, made ten times louder as Wayne bit my neck. "Ow-ooooow! Foxglove make him stop!" I stared sadly at her as she walked over and pried my colt away.

"No, daddy no!"

"Shhh-shhh-shh, daddy's tired." Foxglove carried the fightly foal away, walking back without him as I tried to crawl into my house. "Ben...are you alright?"

"I feel like shit...."

Foxglove closed the door as I managed to pull my feet inside. "Well, I'm nice and rested...I bet I could make you feel better." She bit her lip, flashing her sharp fang over her grey lip and smiling sultrily. "Ben...Ben...are....okay?" I started to fade out as I passed out on my warm carpet. "Ben...oh come--" I passed out, completely exhausted from the long afternoon.

Temptations

        "You promise you won't tell anyone?" Foxglove begged as she stared into the lobby.

"Sure. I mean...I'm gonna laugh at you, but that's different." I planted my fist into my palm. "Anyone else laughs at your or Wayne, they're losing teeth."

Foxglove shifted around as Wayne bounced in his nappy, hung around my chest. "I know...I- do you think it's gonna hurt?"

I fixed Wayne's harness as he tried to bite through the tough material. "If I can deal with him, you can deal with this. Now get in there."

Foxglove took a deep breath and walked into the lobby, leaving me with a baby foal strapped to my chest. "Wayne."

"Aaauh?"

"We're free...and I look stupid."

"Stoo-pid." Wayne babbled, imitating me yet again as his speech developed.

"Don't you start too." I adjusted his harness and walked away. Today was our day off, the foals were left to themselves while a few guards made sure they didn't kill each other. A few even got to hang out with their families.

"Ben!?" A spotted coat bat mare ran over. "It is you!"

I recognized the tiny, navy and cream spotted mare. Her cream spots and mane made her rather unique. "Buttercup, hey, what's going on?"

She smiled wide, her muzzle bright as she smiled. "Nothing, just walking to a friends house." I loved her face, her muzzle looked like it was dipped in cream, and the few large spots on her side and right flank were always pleasing. She was adorable. "Why are you and him-" she propped herself up on my chest and nuzzled Wayne, making him laugh and growl as he tried to wiggle free. "-doing out here?"

I quieted Wayne down as the spotted bat mare walked around me. "Foxglove had a dentist appointment. I'm just dropping her off." Buttercup continued to walk around me, her cream spots bright against her dark base coat.

"Why's she gotta see the dentist?"

"Long story. Now, did you need something?"

Buttercup walked around me, looking me up and down. "I don't know. You busy?"

I shook my head, making sure to keep Wayne stable. "I got a few hours before Foxglove's gonna be done. But you didn't answer my question."

"Well I needed to know if you had time!" She trotted before me and smiled wide. "You wanna meet some people?"

I shrugged. "Sure, are they bats?"

"Some are, some aren't. But you'll like them, they'll like you!" She bumped my knee with her hoof. "Come on!" She started trotting off, away from the dentist's and onto the main street.

I followed quickly, stopping as I found her arguing with a man on the path. "Fucking freaks...look at you, meat eating horses--" The man looked up at me. "Oh great, one of these things too."

I threw my arms out as the horridly aggressive man shoved past. "Hey, asshole, the fuck does that mean?!"

The man just shook his head and flipped me off. "Freak, god damn vampire freak!"

Me and Buttercup just watched as the incensed man walked off. "Wow...the hell was his problem?" Buttercup asked as she trotted over. “Geez, are humans normally that pissy?”

“Depends. But that guy, that guy was a penis.”

“Penis!” Wayne chirped, blissfully ignorant of his vulgarity.

        Buttercup covered her mouth as she started giggling. “Wa-ayne, you shouldn’t say that!”

        “He’s getting vulgar! Little sh- guy, keeps repeating me at the worst times.” I rustled his mane, making him grumble and grab my hand. He sunk his teeth into my hand and started chewing. “Ow….”

        Buttercup lead me down the street. “Ben, that’s a really bad habit you know.”

        “I know, best part is Foxglove does it too now.”

        Buttercup started giggling. “Really? She’s like a foal!”

        “Hey, check yourself. Apparently I taste good.”

        Buttercup kicked her leg out. “Hey now...don’t go saying stuff like that around my friends. They might take that as an offer.”

        “I’ve got a freaking kid! And a girlf--”

        “Mare, friend, a marefriend, special-somepony, not a girlfriend.” Buttercup corrected, taking a hard right into an alley. “There’s a lot of difference Ben. I mean...you could have three marefriends, you can’t have three girlfriends.”

        I cocked my head and started snickering. “W-what the hell does that mean?”

        Buttercup trotted up to a grey brick house, her tail held high as she bounced happily past the gate and to the door. “You’ll see. Now come on, don’t just stand there!”

        I took a deep breath and pulled my hand away from Wayne, wiping the slobber off on my thigh. “No, want!” Wayne complained loudly, bouncing in his harness as I tried to walk towards the waiting open door.

        “Wayne stop, bad, you gonna be bad boy?” I scolded, stopping him in his tracks. He huffed and pouted as I put my hand on his head, keeping him in place. “Good boy.” I rubbed his head as I walked into the warm house. He cooed gently as I played with his ears. His biggest weakness.

        “Awww, see that’s why I invited you over.” Buttercup babbled as she closed the door behind me. “Girls, I’m back!”

        “I know how to- bapbaowho-a, what?” I fumbled as a few sets of footsteps rumbled from another room. Before I could ask what she meant I was face to face with a group of six young mares and a pair of pale looking humans.

        Buttercup stared at me. “Girls, this is Ben, single dad.”

        The crowd bustled their flirty greetings, one bold mare walked over and hugged me, bending her muzzle down towards my groin. “Heeeello, Ben.”

        I let out a raspy cough. “Uh...Buttercup, what is th--”

        “Aw can I see him!?” A mare trotted over, leaning against me and nuzzling Wayne nose to nose.

        “He’s so cute!” Another mare leaned against me, tumbling me back into the door. “I could just eat you up!”

        Wayne was enjoying all the attention, while I was trying to keep standing while more and more mares leaned against me. “Come on baby, we’ll take care of you.” A skinny woman plucked Wayne out of his harness.

        “Hey I--” I tried to push off, but the mares pinned me into a wall.

        Two mares and the woman wandered off with Wayne, burbling and laughing the whole way. I was left to the mercy of three strange mares, a woman, and Buttercup.

        Before I could push off I was dragged into an empty room, cushions lining the floor. Buttercup sat next to me as everyone formed a circle. “Ben, you wanna play?”

        I picked myself up and dusted myself off. “Play what?! What is th--” I stopped dead as a loud glassy sound filled the room. I turned to the center and watched as a bottle spun wild. “Are you serious? Is that why you--” I stopped myself as the bottle stopped. A pair of mares smiled at eachother before leaning across the small gap.

        I watched in awe as they met, a soft pink tongue coming out in seconds. They took it serious, pulling each other close and getting rather forceful with their impromptu makeout session. “I- fuck...I can’t….” I ran my hand through my hair as the two finished off, the dominant grey mane sucking the submissive’s tongue as they drew apart.

        “Mmmuah!” The mare pushed off, a trail of saliva trailing between them as the submissive was left panting. “Come on...two more.” The grey mane cooed as she broke it off. “Two more.”

        I put my hands on the top of my head as I tried to control myself. “Buttercup...you- why would you bring me here!?”

        She just smiled wide and nodded towards a seat. “I figured we could have some fun...you can leave if you want.”

        “Auuuugh….” I groaned to myself, torn between the group of potential lesbians and my girlfriend’s wrath. “Fuck!” I sat down, my member crushed under my clothes.

        The submissive mare spun. The bottle clanked over the hardwood floor. Once again the bottle landed between the same pair. The grey mane smiled wide while the submissive yellow maned let her tongue roll out. The pair leaned over to one another again, the grey mane licking up the yellow’s neck and nipping at her chin.

        “Save it...one more.” She cooed as the submissive shivered and twitched.

        I leaned next to Buttercup. “What happens on three--”

        The bottle spun once again. The two mares stared needily as the bottle slowed down, barely missing the woman in the room and landing on the pair a third time.

        The duo smiled wide as the dominant stood up. She walked behind the submissive and laid down. I watched in greedy awe as the yellow mare’s tail flipped up. The mare let out a small gasp as she adjusted herself. She slowly grew more and more red as the grey mare went to work.

        The yellow mare tried to keep her composure as she pressed her hoof against the bottle. She spun it once again. The bottle clinked around, stopping with the neck right at me.

        Buttercup leaned over to me. “Ben...you lucky lucky--”

        “Fuuuuuck.” I groaned loudly as I stared at the bright red faced, yellow mare, her mouth wide open and tongue flicking needily. “I--” I stood and turned away from the group. I felt myself crying as my conflicted priorities went mad. I wanted this, I wanted this so bad, but Foxglove would murder me in my sleep.

        I took a deep breath and decided to do it. I walked over, kneeling down infront of the now panting mare and held her by the cheeks. I pressed our lips together, eliciting a loud moan from the yellow maned mare as her backside was feasted upon by an equally excited mare.

        She tasted like banana chapstick mixed with the previous mare’s saliva. Her tongue laid gently atop my own as I ran my own over her teeth. I filled her mouth with my oversized tongue, making the petite mare moan loudly. She sucked on my tongue as she locked eyes with me. Her eyelids fluttering closed as I grabbed the back of her head. She went completely limp as she let out a sharp squeal, tightening her oral grip on my tongue and moaning.

        Her moan resonated through my head as she shuddered heavily. I watched as her tail flopped down. I felt like a horrible perfect as I helped spitroast this young mare with my tongue. I pulled back and pulled my tongue free. The yellow mare lowered her head as a damp mouthed grey mane crawled next to her and kissed her lightly.

        My member was fit to burst as I stood up and backed away. “Alright...I’m out, I’m out I’m out I’m out!” I walked past Buttercup and went to find Wayne.

        “Ben don’t just leave, you gotta spin again!” Buttercup groaned as she followed me. “That was awesome, you’re just gonna le--”

        I threw a door open and found Wayne getting a girly makeover by the trio of girls. “Wayne, come on!”

        “Noooo!” He yelled as he ran behind a ebony maned mare. “No go!”

        “Aw you can’t leave yet!” The mare cooed as she scooted Wayne out from behind her. “Please?”

        I plucked Wayne off the floor and plopped him into his harness. “Ladies, it’s been fun! Gotta go, bye!” I walked past everyone and ran out the door.

        I ran painfully back to the dentist’s, Foxglove was waiting out front. “Done- already?”

        Foxglove just stared at me, not saying a word. She flew up, over my shoulder, and plopped down around my neck. She curled up around me went slack. “Oh...okay then.” I ran back home, in an absolute rush to get home and take care of my pained person.

        I bolted home and shakily threw the door open. I ran to Wayne’s room and plopped him down in the middle of the floor. He was covered in makeup and reeked of perfume, but I needed to take care of something.

        I carried Foxglove’s exhausted frame to the bathroom, pulling her off my shoulders and sitting her against the toilet. I undid her bra in seconds, tossing it aside and grabbing her breasts.

        I undid my pants, sliding myself between her and kissing the back of her neck. Foxglove sighed loudly as I thrusted twice, her super soft breasts on my already overstimulated member made short work of me.

        I shot a quick, somewhat disappointing load against the cistern of the toilet. However quick and one sided, it felt amazing to clear the buildup.

        I stumbled back, sitting on the edge of the bath to catch my breath.

        Foxglove stared down at the spooge stain and huffed. She stepped off the toilet and stared at me. Her glare was hard, questioning, and just a bit disappointed.

        

        I took a deep breath. “Foxglove...you gonna say--”

        Foxglove cut me off, opening her mouth and revealing a pair of bright metal lines running over her teeth. “They hurt.” She grumbled as she closed her mouth. “Four montchs.”

        I started laughing to myself as I thought about how mad she would be. “Braces aren’t that bad...I mean….”

        Foxglove glared at me. “Make me feelsh bettersh.”

        I reached back into the shower, turning it on. “I’ll get Wayne….”

Soup

I stared at Foxglove from across our new dining table. Wayne was covered in baby food while Foxglove was face first with a bowl of soup. I forked at my grilled chicken tentatively as Foxglove just stared down at hers. "So...how...how much longer?"

Foxglove slurped at her soup, making a sour face as she stopped. "A month...."

"But...you can eat food once it stops hurting right?"

Foxglove let out a long sigh. "Ben...my mouth hurts...can we not talk?"

I watched Wayne as he slammed his hooves down on his plate, fliping it and coating his grey coat in tan baby gruel. "So...I was thinking...we're...we're...like...you live with me...I live with you. I have Wayne, you've got boobs--"

"We're together...yes...you're not getting rid of me."

I rubbed my chin. "Uh...so...are we like...married?"

Foxglove shook her head. "No, and I'm not getting married...." She rubbed her cheek with her hoof. "We're getting joined.... This-" she reached out and bumped Wayne's highchair with her hoof. "-is my baby, that-" she tapped the table, "-that thing between your legs, is my toy. Got it?"

I pursed my lower lip and nodded casually. "Fair enough...but I get sex whenever I want...."

"Not in front of Wayne and I get to bite you...."

"I can live with that." I forked a piece of chicken and held it for Wayne. Foxglove rolled her eyes and went back to her soup. "He's a big boy...mostly."

"More mature than you." Foxglove snipped, blowing on her soup. "Dear Luna, I don't want to eat this."

I made sure Wayne wasn't going to choke and stood. I picked up her soup and carried it into my kitchen. A quick bout in the microwave later and I stuffed a half a loaf of bread into the broth. I carried the bowl back to her, taking some of my chicken and adding it to her soup in shreds.

"Let the bread absorb it, then eat it with the chicken."

Foxglove glared at me, waiting a while before taking the half soaked loaf in her hoof and chomping down on the broth saturated bread. Her stare narrowed as she slowed her chew, dunking the bread back in the bowl and taking another bite.

I smirked triumphantly and watched her eat. "Say it."

"You suck." Foxglove snapped, continuing her glare. "You suck titty."

"Yes, your tit. Now say it!" I slammed the table, making the silverware jump. Wayne snapped to in his seat. "Say it!"

Foxglove turned her nose up at me. "Wayne, baby, you wanna go nappy?"

"Noooo!" Wayne tried to fly out of his chair, the straps keeping him bound tight. He started crying as he couldn't pull himself free. He started snuffing and huffing as he stared at me. "Daddy, no nappy!"

"No Wayne, no nappy." I reassured my adopted son, rustling his mane and giving him a chance to bite me. "Eeeh no bite." I flicked his nose, making him release my hand. "Bite if nappy, okay?"

Wayne started getting pissy. "Wan--"

"Eeeh!"

"Wa--"

"Wayne...say you're sorry...." Wayne started huffing and pouting. "Wayne."

He let out a final huff. "Bad...."

"Close enough!" I grumbled with a laugh. I turned to Foxglove with a pleased smile, she had already devoured the entire half loaf and was patting her lips down. "Oi!"

Foxglove shined her fang at me.

"Oh got!" I brought my arm up and blocked my eyes. "Too shiny, going- blind!"

"Wow! You know, I was gonna say we should have sex after this, but- I mean wow!" Foxglove jumped off her chair, flying over to Wayne and pulling him out of his seat. "Come on...let's go nappy."

"Nooooo! Daddy, no nappy, no nappy!" Wayne cried and moaned as he was taken away. It hurt my heart to hear him cry but I couldn't let him turn into a crybaby, and coddling him would do him no favors.

"Wayne, nappy bites." I yelled, hearing a sharp yelp from the other room.

"You're a monkey's ass, Ben!"

"Love you!" I yelled back with a laugh. I decided to try and do something nice for her and found a coat. I walked out of my apartment and into the warm spring night.

I had heard about a bar that was night friendly and I figured I'd pop in and grab some booze for my sore mate.

I took my time, strolling through the rather lively streets in the dead of the night. It was both heartwarming to see so many smiling faces, but a bit creepy that I was now some sort of human hybrid. "Freaks!" A man yelled, sloppily throwing himself down the street. "Ssaal a bunch of freaksh!"

I watched as the obviously hammered man stumbled past. He glared at me as he and his equally cocked friend walked past. "Fuckin' blue eyed penis...." The man grumbled at me, falling against me and falling to the floor. "Asshole...in my...wa- ...." He let out a long snore, prompting his friend to jab him in the ribs. "Get up...bats...gotta go...."

I let out a short laugh as the men struggle to get up. I took a break from my walk and joined a group of bat ponies, gawking at the drunk duo. They were having a terrible time, falling over and wallowing in the gutter. One stallion was busting up, forced to the ground as he tried to keep from pissing himself.

His laughter made everyone in the area bust up as the drunk acrobats stumbled about. "I can't- I really c-ah-hahahaha-- Jesus Christ...." A bat pony was struggling to stay upright, his eyes watering from the sloshed humans amazing display. It felt strange hearing a pony say Jesus, but I supposed just at there were humans embracing pony culture, ponies would start to embrace human cultures.

It didn't matter to me either way. I was about to partake in one of the most universal pastimes, getting my mate hammered and watching her play with my baby. I'd managed to get her drunk with Wayne before, and I was eager to see it again.

The rest of my walk was rather calm, Bat ponies and a few unicorns strolling around, burning the late night oil and going about their business. Even after I found the bar, the suspected den of drunks, everything was rather calm.

I had a strange feeling as soon as I walked into the rather plain bar. It felt calm, like a cafe, except with people getting drunk instead of coffee buzzed. It was a good feeling, a warm atmosphere that made me feel at home. Something struck me as I walked towards the counter, this would be terrifying if I didn't know these people.

I understood in a flash why some people found the bats frightening. They were everywhere in this bar, their eyes seemed to glow as they chatted and waved to me. If my eyes weren't so well tailored to the night I would have been absolutely petrified. Night was their time, and the time most others were weakest, it was a natural fear.

I stopped my over thinking and walked up to the bar. To my surprise a normal earth pony trotted over. "Hey, what do you need?"

I stared down at her, a little confused. "Uh...I was gonna...gonna grab a bottle and head home."

She nodded and touched her chin with her hoof. "Yeah, every pony's been doing that since the liqour store closed for renovations...so what do you want handsome?"

"Ginger...stop flirting and pour the fucking drink!" A man in a dress vest and a white collared shirt, sleeves rolled up high, walked over. "Ignore her...she is useless."

"Vlad, the fu--"

"Quiet you." The obvious Russian shut down his help. "Now, what can I help you with?"

I pointed at him. "You're not...but--"

"No...I am not like you." He found a rag and started cleaning glasses as we talked. "They offer to change me, I say no. Now, did you need something?"

I rubbed the back of my head. "Uh...I think my girlfriend knows you..., Foxglove, ring a bell?"

The Russian nodded deeply. "The one with the tits, you are dating her?"

"Well- I mean--"

"Good for you." He stated with a certain airiness to his voice. "She comes, complains to me no one loves her. Bah, good she has someone to keep her quiet."

"Yeah...oh, I'm Ben by the way."

The Russian stuck his hand over the bar. "Vladamir, good to see another friend of my patro--" A loud crash cut him off. "You, enough, get out!" He pulled his hand free of my own and pointed to the door. "Dry out, come back tomorrow!"

A severely beved up mare started mouthing off incoherently, pausing at the door. "You...you love me...you know you love me...it's okay...I love...I love...everyone...." She slumped against the door, riding it down with her cheek before collapsing.

Vlad just shook his head. "They need to learn their limit."

I nodded and put my hands on the bar. "Anyways, can I get a bottle of cherry vodka?"

Vlad popped an eyebrow. "For your friend...yes?"

I started laughing nervously. "Um, yes...."

Vlad nodded, sneering as he found a bottle and put it on the table. "Twenty five bits."

"Dear Luna, that's...bozzak." I pulled a pair of ten bit coins out and tossed them to him. He caught them like a cocky prick and slid me the bottle.

"Good business. Enjoy."

I grabbed the bottle and started leaving the bar. I spotted Buttercup drinking with her friends, I hurried out before she could spot me, but I made a mental note to come back here.

I walked back home, hurrying a little to get home and get my mate hammered.

I threw the door open. "Foxglove, booze!"

I walked around the two story looking for her. Eventually after a loud groan she replied. "Ben, is it good?"

I smiled and hurried towards my bedroom. "Cherry Vodka!"

Foxglove met me at the door. "You know...Wayne's in here."

I forced the bottle against her chest. "Well we can trade, I'll watch Wayne. And plus, this will numb your mouth!"

Foxglove frowned hard at the bottle. She pulled the cap off and started drinking straight from the source. I pushed past her and found Wayne flying around the room. I plucked him from the air and tucked him under my arm. I put the ridge of my hand into his mouth, letting him bite and chew as Foxglove continued to pound the bottle of crappy flavored drink.

I sat on the floor as Foxglove continually drank, not taking a breath, just draining the entire thing in one single bout of impressive drinking. She finished up with a final heavy gulp. She let the bottle drop as she hung her bright red face low.

"Jesus...you know you weren't supposed to drink that all at once...."

Foxglove let out a sharp hiccup and looked up at me, tongue hanging out as cheap vodka dripped from her lips. "Ben...I'm horny...love me."

I smiled wide and held my child out for the needy mare. "Wayne says he loves you."

Foxglove let out a soft squeal. "Oh- my- gosh, baby!" She slumped forward and started crawling towards me. I held Wayne in place until Foxglove grabbed his back legs and pulled him against her chest.

She flipped Wayne onto his back and started blowing huffs of vodka scented breath against his belly. Wayne was both ecstatic and terrified. Foxglove was kissing and prodding his belly, making him laugh towards the point of tears. "Nooo, daddy make stop, noooo!"

I watched in awe as Foxglove snuggled and kissed the growing foal. "Love me, I love you, love me!" Foxglove was pressing her entire muzzle into Wayne's coat. He was miserable as Foxglove laid atop him and cradled his face. He was staring at me, pleading with his eyes as Foxglove kissed his chin. "I love you little baby, I love you!"

I was almost crying as Wayne let out a long whine, he was crying slightly, babbling angrily as Foxglove held him like a stuffed animal.

I decided he'd had enough and pulled him free. "Ben- you prick, I want--" I set Wayne on the bed and put Foxglove over my shoulder. I took her onto the bed and laid her before me. She grabbed my head and forced her alcohol laden tongue into my mouth. I forced her back, fearing of getting drunk off her saliva.

She continued to flail her tongue even while I was a foot away from her mouth. her tail was over her back as she leaked onto my sheets. I scooped her up and ran her leaking sex into Wayne's room. I tossed her drunken ass onto a table and found a diaper, and taped it around her to keep her from leaking everywhere.

I jammed a pacifier in her mouth, stopping her strange movements and making her eyes go heavy. She sucked hard at the pacifier as she jammed her hoof towards her crotch.

I was in awe as the diaper clad mare tried to masturbate and suck her way to whatever drunk bliss she was going for. I set her on the floor and walked away.

I found Wayne pouting on my bed as I rejoined him. "Well...that was...Wayne...stop pouting...stop it."

Wayne made an extremely angry face and stared at me, he knew what I had done. "Bad daddy, bad!"

"You're too smart for your own good! Now come on, let's get something sweet." Wayne just sat there angrily. "What, you don't want sweets?"

Wayne flapped his wings slow floating down from the bed and onto the floor. He ran past me and towards my kichen. "That's what I thought...sent that foal for sugar...foals love sugar." I laughed at my own joke for a moment. "Heh... dumb."

Corner

I sat in the grade school area once again. Whoever was running the foal rearing part of this seemed to have taken a liking to me and promoted me to taking care of any and all non adult bat ponies. My new job was basically me sitting and babysitting the foals no one else wanted to, the gradeschoolers. It wasn't that they were poorly behaved, matter of fact my spanking episode had instilled a good deal of discipline.

They were still kids though, and I let them get away with little things. But they were dangerous. They were a danger to themselves, while they fly they're like damn groin seeking missiles, and the are constantly sticky. But they were slowly turning into my kids. With no major figure in their lives I was filling the gap, it was nice, they listened to me, liked me, and even when they got pissy, they would always come back and apologize.

"Ben!" The golden maned filly, Castor, ran over. "Ben...hi." She walked over beside me and sat down. "Ben, we're married."

I suppressed a laugh and pet her mane. "Castor, go play with your friends."

She looked up at me, bright yellow eyes like dinner plates. "But...we're friends."

I felt horribly guilty as she stared up at me. "Yeah but I- I gotta watch the others too...."

"But...Ben...I wanna play." She hugged my leg, headbutting my knee. "We're friends, you said to play with friends!"

"Ffff-- yeah...I guess I did." I rubbed her ears, calming her. "Hug?"

She popped her chin up, pressing against my shin. "Hug!?"

I scooped up the ecstatic filly under her forelegs and tucked her against my shoulder. I cradled her against me and rubbed her back. She cooed softly as I held her against me.

"Oh gosh, that's so cute!" A familiarly sweet voice cut off my moment. I popped my eyes open, finding Datura walking over. "Look at you, putting the moves on a little filly."

I left Castor hanging off my neck while I turned to Datura. "What can I say, apparently we're married."

"Eeaaha, that's so cute! I love Castor!" Datura squealed, "Come here!" Datura trotted over, trying to pry Castor from my neck. Castor promptly kicked free and hissed at her. "Whoa, hey!"

"Mine!" Castor yelled, tightening her grip.

"Castor! Off now!" I tucked my hands under her forelegs and yanked her off. "That's not okay."

"But--"

"No buts! Corner, five minutes." I stood and carried the huffing filly to a corner with a stool. "We don't kick ponies, especially not your elders."

"Ben- I don't wanna--" I sat her down and turned her towards the corner. She started crying as I scooted her into the corner. "I don't wanna--"

"Five minutes, no talking, no getting up." I set a timer and hung it on the wall. "Good ponies don't kick people without a reason."

"But she tried to take you away!"

I shook my head. "A good reason Castor, and you get to play with me for hours, I see Datura maybe once a week. Now the time doesn't start until you're quiet."

Castor stopped her huffing and settled down. I started the timer and turned to the small crowd growing around us. "Don't talk to Castor right now, okay?"

The kids mumbled and slowly dispersed. Datura was still sitting where I had left my chair. "Geez, I feel a little bad now."

"Don't. It's five minutes, and once it's over she'll come and lay down next to me like nothing happened." I rubbed my neck, pinching my hair as I did. "It's- hey!" I jumped up, charging over and catching a colt harassing Castor. "What did I say?"

"I- I- I--" The colt locked up as I stared down at him. I picked him up, carrying him over to another corner. "No! I didn't do it!"

"I saw you making faces. I told you Castor's in trouble, that doesn't mean you can make fun." I repeated the process as with Castor. "Five minutes. You wait for me, you don't leave on your own."

"But I--"

"No buts." I wiped my hands off on my pants and joined Datura again. I made sure the two were left alone while we talked. "Alright...now did you need something?"

"Not really. Luna asked me to deliver some mail." She pulled a few letters from her pack. "She said she forgot to send them out sooner. That's all." Datura turned away. "Hi kids! Hi!" She nuzzled a colt and walked out of the room.

I started looking through the letters. Starting top down I got reading.

Dear Mr. Wesk...title of Night Baron of Central Canterlot....congratulations on this amazing achievement....

"Neat!" I tucked the letter away. "Guess she's been keeping an eye on me."

Dear Mr. Wesk....title of Night Count of North East Equestria...amazing achievement...land grant....

"Whoa shi- aaaah...." I stopped myself from swearing. I had known the only other human to receive a count title. He was the barman from a few days ago. From what I heard he had given his land back to the government. I moved on to the next letter.

Want the size of a stallion? Want stamina like a human? Want the force of a griffon, call--

I crumpled up the spam and chucked it in a bin across the room. "Crap." I moved on.

Thank you for your samples in the...Noctem e' Homonid, Night Human program...genetics....excellent results! -Boxwood, head of human research under Lady Luna.

"That's a hell of a title." I folded the notes away for further study later. Castor's timer went off. I kept reading as I walked over.

Back pay is waiting to be collected...please accept our apologies at the poor timing...thank you.

"Huh, all good things." I folded my letters away and picked up the sullen Castor. I carried her back to my chair and sat her down on my lap. She didn't say anything, she just curled against my stomach and laid there. "You okay hun?"

"Yeah...." Castor mumbled, pressing her forehead against my stomach. "I'm okay."

"Good lass." I turned back to my letters.

Ben, honey, I'm so proud of you! ...big decision...congratulations! ....make us proud. -Mom

"Oh man, that's cool!" I tucked the letter away. The last thing was a large clasp envelope. Full sized sheets of paper and everything.

I undid the tie and opened it up.

Dear Mr. Wesk...thank you for your adoptions...gesture of kindness will never be forgotten. ...while adopted, we expect you to use the recently build facility with our blessing. Finalization needed...numbered foals require names, elder foals require a meeting per foal....honorary title of Father of the Night....

The packet of papers was trailed by a huge list of names and numbers. "Uuuuuuuuuuh- Argyle, Datura, anyone!? Why is my name on this!?" I flipped through the pages. Each and every foal I was watching, and every foal I had cared for was on the list of adoption. "I- what did I do!?"

Castor looked at the pages as I stared at the ceiling. "What's adoption mean?"

"I- I don't- uuuuh...it means...your parents...are...uuuuh.... Tarus, you're out of timeout!"

The colt bolted, leaving the dreaded stool to join his friends. "Ben...are you okay?" Castor asked as she stood up. "What does this mean?" she pointed to the papers.

"I- I think I just adopted a generation!" I gripped my scalp, digging my nails in. "How- how the hell does this happen!?"

"You said a bad word! Timeout!" Castor shouted, bouncing her hooves on my lap. "Ben, you said a bad word!"

I needed to get out of this room and find things out. "Listen, you know your daddy?"

"No...."

I held my arms out, confusing the foal for a few seconds. "Adoption means you get a new daddy...and...my name's on the paper...so.... You get it?"

Castor shook her head. "No...."

I rubbed my temples. "I'm your dad...."

Castor's eyes went wide. "D-daddy?!"

"Apparently, you and everypony else here!"

Castor let out a sharp squeal and bolted off of me, running in circles while shouting. "I've got a daddy! I've got a daaaaaaaddy!"

"Castor shh--"

It was too late, a group of foals wandered over. "What happen?"

"H-h-he, he's my daddy!" Castor shrieked, pointing to me with her hoof.

"Liar!" I shook my head and held the papers for the wisest foal I knew. She read the paper and stopped suddenly. "I-...dad?"

Things quickly spiraled out of control as she started explaining things to the less coherent foals. "Kids...calm down!"

They were out of control, going mad at the prospect of parentage. Some crazed at having a father, some at the prospect of having brothers and sisters.

I tried to slip out of the room, caught mid step. Castor latched onto my leg, tripping me and slamming me face first into the ground. "Daddy!"

"I want a dad!"

"Yay!"

The foals went wild, creating a small stampede over to me. In seconds I was covered in a fifteen strong herd of foals, all either biting me, hugging me, or just standing on me. I tried to drag myself to the door, but the extra twenty pounds per pony proved a bit too heavy.

I gave up, letting the foals keep me down until someone else could show up and free my from my tiny prison. I felt soft coats nuzzling against my face, into my sleeve, and under my shirt. The ponies settled down after fifteen minutes of rioting.

"Ben, work's u-- whoa, what happened?" Another nanny walked in and sat before me. "B-e-e-en," Argyle started laughing. "What happened to you?"

I looked up at her sadly. "I'm a dad...." I slid the papers carefully out from under me.

Argyle picked up the papers and looked them over. "Oh my god!" He jumped back, loosing his mind and laughing like an idiot. "Ben, what did you do!?"

"I tried to be a good guy! Adopting a single foal, being a dad- now this! This is my life now!"

"Dear Luna...I think you just put me out of business!" He joked, trying to pick the foals off me. "Come on kids--"

"let em...you're never gonna get them this calm ever again. Just enjoy it...."

"Well shit...do you want some help?"

I let out a short huff. "Can you go pick up something to eat? This is gonna be a long night...."

"Sure dude. And, congratulations...it's a herd."

Visits

A loud knocking came from my front door. "I swear to Luna, this is bullshit!" I started stumbling down the stairs. "It's fucking ten AM, too early for your shit!" I charged over to the door and flung it open. "What!?"

I was immediately slapped. "Ben!"

I took a moment and realized just who was knocking. "Mom!? The fu--" I was slapped once again.

"Mind yourself!" My mother pushed past me, my father and my sister trailing behind her.

"Ben, good to see you." My dad gave me a pat on the shoulder and a smile.

"Ben! You're a dad!" My sister threw her arms around me, clutching me like a fool. "Oh-my-god, can I see him!?"

"Jen...." I grabbed my sister by the shoulder. "Why the- fuck -are mom and dad here!?"

Jen gave me an incredulous look. "We got a letter, that you adopted a foal! They wanted to see him."

"Who told you!?"

"The letter was from the government! The return address was a freaking castle!" Jen pulled away and headed inside. "Now move, it's freaking hot out here!"

I stood, back resting on my door, as my family invaded my life. "God...damn.... Couldn't stay in Vermont...." I grumbled angrily as I walked into my house, slamming the door behind me. I found my family walking around my living room, staring at the paintings I had bought and the other knickknacks I had collected.

"Ben, honey, where did you get this?" My mother pointed to a painting by a bat pony. "It's...amazing."

I looked at the dark and vibrant swirls, the clashing lines tearing the canvas in half. Bright reds cut the white canvas into ribbons, bright shades of tan, blue and purples nestled into the spaces between. "Yep...mom...it's like...three am for me...can I go back to sleep?"

She cocked her head and gave me an unsure look. "Honey...it's ten."

I held my hands up in a stopping motion. "I know...but...changes.... I sleep in the day now, and...Jen, explain being nocturnal...."

Jen turned away from a small statuette. "Oh...he's basically a vampire now."

"Ben...why did you turn into a vampire?"

I slapped myself across the forehead. "Mother...it was part of my job...and I'm not a vampire--"

"Your sister said you're a vampire." My mother stated dryly, putting her hands on her hips. "And you've got fangs."

I deadpanned completely. I rolled my tongue out and opened my eyes fully. Something I hadn't realized but my eyes were extremely reflective, nearly glowing when someone shone a light in them. "Ben! What happened to you!?"

My dad stepped between me and my mother. "Leave him alone Nancy.... He's a grown man, it was his choice."

"But look at my baby! He's so pale, have you been--"

I ignored them and turned to Jen. "Here." I dug into my pocket and jammed a load of bits into her hand. "Take this...go have fun in town, and come back around...six pm, I'll wake everyone up. Okay?"

Jen shrugged and pocketed the stuff. "I get ya. Freakin stay up all night myself."

"Yeah, but you're in like what, tenth grade?"

"Eleventh, jerk." Jen turned away and walked over to our parents.

I took my chance and walked up the stairs. I made sure to lock Wayne's door, barring intrusion on my young son. With him secure I hurried back into my own room and threw myself, still clothed, into bed. "Hhmmm, Ben who was it?" Foxglove moaned, confused as I got under the covers and pulled her against me.

"Don't ask...we'll take about it later...." I nuzzled against Foxglove's mane and closed my eyes. "I love you...you feel nice...."

"Bed...go to bed."

I took her advice and tried to go to sleep.

I woke up to the sound of Wayne screaming. "Awwww--fuuuuuck." I rolled onto my back and jammed my hands against my eyes. "Fucking day dwellers." I got upright and swung my body out of bed. "Why!?"

Foxglove pulled her head out of the covers, her mane was frayed and amazingly disheveled. "Ben...I'm gonna go shower...are you gonna be okay?"

I let out a deep sigh as Wayne started crying. "Yeah...you go ahead."

I grumbled and blustered as I pushed out of my room. Jen was banging on the door up and down the hall. "Jenny, stop!"

She jumped, turning to face me. "Ben, someone's crying!"

"Yeah...it's my kid." I grabbed the key from the top framing of the doorway and started unlocking it. "He's two...you start slamming the walls you're gonna make him cry."

I pushed into the room letting out a strange garbled yawn. "Ishowannabed." My voice was horribly scratchy and Wayne's cries and huffs only added to the early night bullshit. "Wayne, little buddy, you okay?"

Wayne was pissed, flying out of his crib and across the room. He hid under the usual table and just glared at me. "Hssssssss!"

"Oh-my-god!" Jen walked past and stood before me. "Can I hold him!?"

I rubbed my face, lamenting my early wake up. "Ya, go ahead and stick your hand in there."

I watched with bated breath as she hurried over and tried to coax Wayne out from under the table. "Come here...come on...I just- fuck!" She pulled her hand back, dragging Wayne out by his mouth. "Why!?"

I walked over and pried Wayne off her hand. "Yeah...he does that." I tapped his fangs until he let go, and just as quickly whisked him up into my arms. "Wayne, hungry?"

He just pouted and tried to flap his wings. I kept him cradled and started carrying him towards the kitchen. Jen trailed behind, holding the tiny puncture wounds on her hand. "Ben...you're a dick."

I rubbed my eyes with my free hand. "Yeah well maybe next time don't go waking up my toddler...he's gonna be pissy all day now!" I put my hands under Wayne's forelegs and held him for Jen. "Look at this sour ass face, wake him up early and he stays like this for hours!"

Wayne kicked his back legs, swinging his body and trying to get free. "Down!"

"No." I tucked him under my arm. "I let him go he's gonna go hide in a cupboard somewhere."

Jen walked over and joined me in the kitchen. "But...you know the paper said you had more than one--"

"Kch! My mare doesn't know!" I cut her down, sitting Wayne in his seat and prying open a can of beans. "I have to sort that out later, but she doesn't know yet." I went to work heating up the thick mean paste. "Wayne...you want a burrito?"

"...Yess...."

"Cheese?"

"Yess!"

"Good lad." I pulled a pack of ground beef from the fridge and added it to the mix.

Jen leaned in and looked at the mess. "Um...can you feed him that stuff? Aren't they...you know, herbivores?"

"Ha, Wayne, you like greens?"

"Nooooo!!" Wayne tried to pull out of his seat. "No no no!"

I went back to my cooking. "Bat ponies can eat meat, it goes through their system fine." I grabbed a lime from my counter and chopped it in half. "Hey, watch this." I cut the lime again, quartering it. "Wayne, open."

Wayne spotted the green fruit and popped his mouth open. I popped the slice of fruit in and watched as he clamped down on it. His face contorted into an expression of pure horror and amazement as he suckled at the lime. His face bound up like mad, eyes squinting, mouth puckering, everything about him seemed to tighten up.

Jen let out a girlish squeal as she ran over. "Ben, look at him!" She leaned down face to face with him and giggled.

I let Wayne soak up the sour liquid in a mix of adoration and disgust. I hit the walls with my fist and looked up. "Foxglove, you want a lime!?"

"-an't- ere- o!"

I shook my head and went back to cooking. "Jen, you want a burrito?"

Jen looked back to me. "Throw some potatoes in there you got a deal!"

"You gonna boil potatoes!?"

"You got any!?"

I grabbed a bag of potatoes off the top of my fridge and tossed it to her. "Do it! Peeler's in the cupboard, pot's in the cabinet."

Jen got to work, helping me cook. Little by little my parents filtered in, immediatly smitten by Wayne. "Ben...this your kid?" My dad asked, his gruff tone faltering. "Who the hell gave him a lime?!"

"Oh look at him, he loves it! Look at his fat little face!" My mother cooed, plucking him from his seat and carrying him. "Little guy...I'm taking this home with me."

Little by little the burritos came together, beans, meat, potatoes and tortilla, all combined to make amazing food. Foxglove peeked into the room and started looking around. "Ben...Ben...who the fuck are these people!?" She whispered, peeking her head inside.

I put a burrito on a plate and brought it over to her. "Family...meet your in-laws...and a burrito."

Foxglove put the plate on her back and looked around. "Wait...so...they're--"

"Oh! Ben, who's this?" Jen ran over, half stuffing her mouth with a load of beans. "This your girlfriend?"

"Jen...shut up." I pushed her back a step. "Foxglove, my sister, my father, my mother." I pointed to each in order. "Day dwelling nutcases from Vermont."

"Hello." My dad charged over and offered his hand. "Came to see the new additions."

Foxglove slowly put her hoof into his hand, having it shaken violently. "Whoa- hello!" She pulled away, nearly dropping the burrito off her back. "Dear Luna...do you wrestle bears!? Ben, how are you so skinny!?"

I shrugged. "Dad?"

My dad let out a small sigh and pointed to my mother. "Made him eat, healthy, made him take soccer instead of football."

"Ha..ha...ha....urgh.... I had forgotten about that...." I groaned softly, leading everyone to the table. "Soccer...terrible sport...."

My mother took a seat next to Wayne while me and my Dad too the head and tail. Foxglove took the seat to my right, my sister sitting next to her. Things got quiet as burritos hit the table. Foxglove seemed uneased by the small crowd, finally being outnumbered by humans. "So...you two are dating?" My mother asked, toying with Wayne and slowly feeding him bits from a dilapidated burrito.

Foxglove let out a rough cough. "Sort of.... We're promised to each other...so...it's a little more serious." Foxglove pushed her hoof onto my lap. I wrapped my hand around it hand felt her calm down. "So...yeah."

"Interesting." My mother jabbed a spoonful of burrito into my son's mouth and pet his head. Wayne nearly melted under her touch. "So...Ben...I'm really going to take this little guy home...."

I let out a rough cough. "No...no--" I stopped dead at a sudden realization. "Umm...mom...dad...you...how would you feel about giving some foals a home?"

My dad jumped, hitting his knee on my table. "No!"

My mother nodded, scratching Wayne's chin and making him coo gently. "Your father's right, we can't." I watched her as Wayne bit her hand. "Hey!" My mother pulled away and bopped him on the nose. "Bad."

"Mraau--"

"Stop it."

Wayne stared at my mother, not enjoying her challenge. "Ba--"

"Excuse me!?" My mother leaned over Wayne, staring him down. "Go ahead...go ahead...complain."

Wayne shrunk down under her steely gaze. "...Mmmuah." Wayne mumbled, lowering his head in defeat.

"Good...." she got another spoonful of mashed burrito mix and pushed it into his mouth. "Feisty little shit, he...is he yours?" She asked Foxglove, petting Wayne and making him perk up sightly.

Foxglove shrunk back a little. "No...he's not--"

"I'll explain it later, but no he's not hers." I cut in, sensing my partners nervousness. "Anyways...I'd love to show you around, but we have work after this."

"That's fine honey." My mother finished up with Wayne and picked him up. "We'll just spend the night here."

"Ach-...you wanna watch Wayne for the night?"

My mother smiled. "Of course, we'll stay the night, then head out for our tour in the morning."

I scratched my head. "Tour?"

Jen waved her arms in front of me. "I thought I told you. We came to visit you, yeah, but some people named Luna offered us a tour of the city."

I shook my head. "Not named-- From Luna, she must have offered something.... Anyways, yeah you can stay for the night." I ran my hand over Foxglove's hoof. "You sure you'll be alright taking--"

"Hmm?" My mom was bouncing Wayne in her arms, my dad was already in the other room watching TV, and Jen was watching my mom greedily. "Ben, I raised you, John, Jenny and Tanner. I can handle a baby."

"Uh...yep...." I stood up, pulling Foxglove over my shoulder. "I'll...be back around two am." I walked to the front door and threw myself out the door.

Foxglove immediately jumped out of my grasps. "Dear Luna, Ben...warn me next time! I was sitting there, surrounded by freaking humans!"

I looked at her with a bitter look. "What does that mean!?"

Foxglove took a deep breath. "Ben...groups of humans are freaking scary...."

"Groups of bat ponies are scary!"

Foxglove pranced around a little. "It's different...your dad looks like a bear...and your sister...I...you're all too tall!"

I picked her up and put her over my shoulder, her breasts pressing against my upper arm. "Nerves are understandable...but don't say it's because they're human."

Foxglove tightened around my arm. "I guess.... Your dad...how is he so big? He's like a giant or something!"

I shook my head, patting her back. "My dad ate nothing but steak and used to work construction...he's a big dude, but if you're in the family...he'd die for you."

"Well that's good...I guess."

I took a deep breath. "You know...with them watching Wayne, we can go out for dinner."

Foxglove adjusted in my arms. "...Alright...I like them.... But...something yummy, but something that won't get caught in my braces."

"Fair enough. Maybe a little, dessert, after."

Foxglove let out a quick chuckle. "We'll see...."

Train

I sat in my living room, watching Foxglove cradle Wayne. "So...what's all this about?" She asked, shifting around. "You're sweating."

I pressed my tongue against the roof of my mouth. "Hey...so you...you remember when I adopted Wayne, whole bunch of paperwork and all that...."

Wayne wiggled free, trotting away as Foxglove adjusted her seat. "Right. What about it?"

I clapped my hands together, jamming them between my knees. "Uh. Well, see...there was some error, and I ended up--"

"Adopting the foals in the nursery and basic school. I know." Foxglove poked her breasts. "I did that."

I sat, staring into space for a few moments. "Foxglove, why!?"

She just shrugged, shifting across the couch. "Look. It's about a lot of things...giving those foals a father...getting you well known...that little county Luna gave you." Foxglove let out a soft sigh. "Speak of which, we're going to go check it out." She shifted again, sitting on a pillow and rocking back and forth.

"Alright...I'll ask it...what the fuck do you get out of this!?" I snapped, jumping upright and pointing at her. "What's your game?"

Foxglove continued to restlessly move. "Ben, I love you, you're so good to the foals, and I thought who better to be there for them--"

"Then just let me do my job! I was fine just being there for them, but now...." I ran my fingers through my frayed hair. "I can't even fix it, I mean...I'm not about to re-abandon half a generation."

Foxglove smiled and clacked her hooves together. "And that's why I did it! Ben...they're going to help you raise them, you just...might have to answer a few questions...spend a little more time with them--"

"I was already doing that!" I shot back, throwing myself back into my seat. "Everything was great, but now...I mean...it just kinda fucks it up."

Foxglove flared out her wings, flying over and landing on my lap. "Ben, look at me. Nothing is going to change for you, but for them...it means a lot." She hugged me, resting her head on my shoulder. "I know I should have told you...but I knew you'd say no."

"Who said I would have said no!?"

Foxglove locked up. "Pardon?"

"If I'd known I would have been fine with it! I could have thrown a little party for them, started picking out names...all sorts of cool stuff." I hugged her back, holding my hand against her mane. "I love them...they were already like my kids."

"Oh...Ben...do you hate me?" Foxglove asked sincerely, tightening her hooves around my head.

I let out a short sigh. "No...I'm just not exactly happy about it."

Foxglove nipped at my ear. "Trust me, I did it for a reason." Foxglove took a deep breath. "Ben...say you love me."

"Foxglove, I would die for you." I stated, rubbing her back and running my fingers along the underside of her wings. "It's not even a question."

Foxglove pressed her head against my ear. "Well...we're not...tied off yet...so...I needed to be sure." Foxglove took a deeply shaken breath. "You're a noble...."

"Okay...and that means?"

Foxglove took a breath, her body rocking on my lap. "It will make sense when we get there...the land Luna gave you, I bought some tickets to go and show you...it's...kinda--" Foxglove locked up, biting my earlobe and licking at me. "I love you Ben...I love you so much."

"Whoa!" I forced her back a bit. "What the hell!?"

Foxglove was teary and extremely grabby. "Ben...I need you right now...I really just need you right now."

I leaned back into the bed as Foxglove's crying face tore into my soul, her hooves flailing, trying to get a grip on me. "What the hell's going on!?"

Foxglove let her hooves fall limp and just started sobbing. "Ben...I'm really fucking emotional right now...and I need someone to help."

"That explains nothing!"

Foxglove caught her breath. "You know these...." She shook her back legs, jiggling her breasts. "The next generation of foals is coming...so they've been giving me hormones to make me produce milk." She started crying again as she fondled herself. "I'm so fucking horny...I'm so fucking sore...Ben help me." She lowered her head, resting against my hands. "Ben...I need you."

I brought foxglove around my arm and rubbed her back. "It's okay...it's okay honey."

Foxglove took a deep breath. "Ben it's not okay! Stop telling me it's okay! I feel like my tits are about to explode, my crotch is on fire, I nearly rubbed myself raw with your shirt!"

"God damn it!"

"Ben...we have a train to catch, my vagina is about to spurt all over your leg, and I'm starting to lactate...do something!" She started bouncing on my leg. "Ben-Ben-Ben-Ben...do something...."

I put her over my shoulder and ran to the phone. I pinned her against my arm as I dialed the phone. "Come on...come on!" The dial tone rang in my ears too long for my liking. "Fucking Datura!" I tried another number.

A loud clatter cried out. "Hello?"

"Buttercup, it's Ben--"

Buttercup started giggling like a fool. "Oh-my-gosh, Ben! What's up? Why you calling me? Did Foxglove say yes!?"

I slammed the phone on the wall a few times. "Buttercup, babysitter, now!"

"Ben...what?"

"I need someone to watch Wayne damn it! Get your ass over here and you can eat everything in my fridge!"

There was a short silence, followed by a loud clatter. I ran to the window, scanning the area around Buttercup's apartment. A shady figure darted up over the rooftops and started zooming over. "Thank Luna she's a glutton."

Foxglove sunk her teeth into my neck. "You calling me fat!?"

"Ow- Christ!" I weathered her bites and ran up the stares, turning on a light and opening a window. "Foxglove stop it!"

A familiar cream muzzled face flung through my window and into the room. "Wooo, two questions, where's the food, where's the foal!?"

I shook my head as Buttercup started dancing in place. "Your priorities worry me." I pointed down the stairs. "Wayne's wandering around, just tell him, dinner, and he'll come running."

"Awesome, I'm gonna get so fucking fat!" Buttercup squealed, running down the steps.

I ran down after her. "Watch the house until we get back! Food should last a month!"

I yanked Foxglove off my neck, her voice changing from brash anger to utter dispair. "Ben...I don't blame you...just leave me here...you go."

"Wha?"

Foxglove started sobbing as she hung heavy on my arm. "You deserve better...go, she'll be better to you...."

I started laughing like mad. "Are you talking about Buttercup!?"

"Hmmph!?" Buttercup mumbled, popping her head into the entry with a face full of cookies. "Wah, I dos?"

"Nothing...don't worry about it." I carried Foxglove towards the door. "Train, when?"

Foxglove started crying into my shoulder. "Si-six fifteen...."

"What!?" I spotted a clock, it was six even. "Damn it! Buttercup you behave yourself!" I pillaged Foxglove's basket of crap next to the door, finding a sealed envelope with a Lunar seal. I pocketed the tickets and ran out the door, locking it and bolting towards the train station.

Foxglove was nearly weeping, mumbling as I ran. "Ben- Ben- slow down, Ben I- lov-v-v-v--" Foxglove locked up around my arm as I ran through the warm spring night, several bat ponies watching me run. "Aaaahhhaa...." I felt my shirt grow damp around my gut, Foxglove going limp as she bounced.

I ignored it. I could take care of her on the train, but I wasn't about to waste two damn train tickets just because of some emotional mare. And I was more than a little curious about the land Luna had promised me. There must have been a reason, and from the few maps I'd seen, the land she promised was smack dab in the mountains.

The air got warmer and warmer, the smell of Foxglove's unique musk filling the air as I ran through the streets of Canterlot. "Shit- shit!" I spotted a line of ponies marching through the street. "Lost, train station, where!?" I yelled, running over to them. The groggy day dwellers ran away, one thrusting his hoof down the road. "Thank you!"

I sprinted like mad, Foxglove barely holding on as I ran. I clutched her to my body and ran to the waiting train. "Wait- fuck- wait!" The whistle blew softly. "No-no-no-no!" I bolted into the side of the train, bouncing off like a pinball.

A bat pony in a hat ran over. "Whoa! I leave to go take a wee and suddenly someone bashing their head against a train! What's going on?"

I rubbed my head, standing up and stumbling towards the train door. "Late...can't miss...." I stumbled inside, a pony with a tired expression and a jacket walked over.

She let out a rough cough. "Tickets?" I fished the crumpled tickets out and handed them over. The mare looked them over and frowned hard. "Wrong train."

"What!?" I yelped. "Did I miss it!?"

The mare looked out the window. "No Count Wesk, it's in the yard...see it?" She lead me to a window, pointing out a small three car train. "Not...not many people take that train...but I think I get it."

I looked at the dusty looking train. "Oh...." I scratched my head as Foxglove continued to mumble sadly to herself. "Uh...sorry." I walked out of the train, looking around and spotting the hatted bat pony heading towards the dusty relic. The first train gave two soft toots and started off.

I found a bench, petting Foxglove's mane as she went through a series of rather heavy emotions. "Ben...I'm sorry...I'm so lumpy...so ugly." She curled up across my lap and wiggled around. "I'm not worth it...any of this."

I grew sick of her moping, putting the side of my hand into her mouth and letting her bite down hard. "It's okay honey...it's okay...."

Foxglove spit my hand out. "It's not fucking okay! Fuck you! You're a piece--"

I forced my hand back in her mouth, not in any sort of mood for her violent outbursts. "Foxglove, chew."

"Don't--"

"Chew." I pet her mane gently, moving to her neck as she started suckling at my hand. She went slightly docile as the train was driven onto an older set of tracks. They creaked under the train's weight. "Oh god...." I mumbled softly, growing nervous about this ride.

The train groaned into place, the platform across a set of tracks. "Oh hey, you're the guy!" The hatted pony ran over. "Hey...so...I'm Bane, I'll be your driver this wonderfully warm night!"

I stood up, cradling Foxglove like a baby. "Hi...I'm--"

"Count Wesk, yeah I know." He snickered a little. "You're kinda famous."

I scratched my head. "Am I?"

The pony shrugged. "Home town hero kinda thing. Kinda like Datura. Except she's a singer...and you're...a dad."

"Uh huh. "Look...it's getting kinda late."

"Fine, fine. Hop on, it's your car and everything. No one else goes to Transylmania."

I stared at the stallion as he started walking towards the train. I followed slowly, thinking about what the hell kinda name he'd just said. Foxglove was on the edge of consciousness, her tongue licking at my wounded hand as her teeth dug in. I nervously crossed the tracks towards the passenger car. "Um...is this safe!?"

"Probably not. But who cares, isn't it more fun that way?" Bane asked, climbing into the engine and waving me to hurry. I complied and climbed into the old fashion luxury car. It smelled of dust, but was otherwise rather nice. Dull oil lanterns, old untouched furniture, well preserved for how old it looked.

"Huh...." I spotted a bed near the rear. This wasn't just a passenger car, this was a family owned car. I set Foxglove down in the bed, slowly pulling my hand free and leaving her passed out on the bed. I found a cloth, airing it out and wiping down her underside.

"Ben?" Foxglove croaked, hazily looked around. "Where are we?"

I finished up with her and tossed the cloth away, nearly tripping as the train lurched forward. "Whoa- train. Everything's alright. Just be calm."

Foxglove looked down at her pink pussy, showing through her coat. "Did...did I squirt?"

I looked at my shirt. "At some point...I think I jostled you too hard."

Foxglove fluttered her eyes. "You can jostle my any time." Things grew a bit awkward as she eyed me up. "You're really sexy, standing over me like this...big and tall...."

I let out a short cough. "I'm gonna go...check on the driver."

"Ben...don't go." Foxglove cooed, snapping awake and laying across the bed. "I want you...I want you to be with me...." She grew a bit red, tapping the sheet she was on. "I'm so wet...I bet you could make me squirt so hard...I bet- Hey, hey!" Foxglove started standing up, her wings flaring out as she did. "You get the fuck back here and ride my pussy!"

I closed the door to the car behind me, suddenly thrust out into an unsafe fuel car, hurtling up the side of a mountain. I grabbed the safety rail, staring down into a dark abyss. "Holy shit--" I held on tight as we took a harsh curve. I took a moment to look around. Rocky crags to the left, a dark and misty canyon below, a soft orange sunrise cresting over the eastern peaks and a heavy fog slowly sinking from above.

I hurried to the front car, throwing myself in and bumping into the driver. "Hey Count, what's going on?"

I looked out the window. "Eh...my wife's in heat...or...artificial heat, or something stupid. You?"

Bane laughed a little. "That's rough. Eh, I'm just sitting here, driving, going to some underdeveloped backwater. No big deal."

"About that. What's this place like?" I asked, looking ahead.

"Transylmania? It's...foggy. It's a town build into a valley at the top of the mountain. I think there's a castle...I'm not sure. I left there when I was five."

I scratched my head. "So...is that it? I mean, I've never even heard about it. Apparently I own--"

"Oh right! You're human.... A human Count of Transylmania...that's not gonna go over great."

"What does that mean?"

"It means we're not going into town until dusk." Bane stated, pulling the brake and slowing the train. It chugged out of a tunnel, revealing the city below. "Bats aren't gonna like being told who's in charge."

I stared down at the dark, rustic, village below. It was nestled high in mountains. I could only stare in awe at the somber town, a huge dark grey castle slowly being illuminated by the sun, cresting over the walls of the valley. "Holy shit...." It was truly beautiful, revealed completely as the fog burned away. It was dense, the buildings spacious while still close together. It felt dark, oppressive, but in the illumination of the sun it gained new life.

I could only marvel at it, and gleefully await the town covered in soft burning lanterns and sparkling lights. "Hey...don't get too excited.... It's Transylmania...home of the bats...and...in case you don't know our history...the- uh... the old fashion bats are kinda xenophobic."

"I'm sure I'll be fine. But...why can't we just go in right now?"

"Are you fucking crazy!? I'm not going into their town while they're sleeping! I like not being beaten to a pulp." Bane pulled down a cot and jumped in. "Now go get some sleep. Got a big day ahead of you."

I let out a long sigh and wandered back across the cars. I lingered in the open air catwalk of the fuel car, staring at the town below. "Amazing...how is this place not well known...." I hurried on towards the passenger car, watching as Foxglove angrily humped her hooves. I walked in, getting an angry glare sent my way immediatly.

Foxglove pulled her forelegs from her underside, holding them out for me. "You see this?" Her hooves were slick and glistened in the lamp light. "Ben...I can't do it.... Damn these blunt hooves!" She cried, a hint of sadness to her voice. "Ben...help me."

I sighed and sat next to her. "Fine...present--" Foxglove beat me to it, thrusting her flank in my face and pulling her thick tail to the side. "Jesus...."

"Stop staring at me!" Foxglove snarled, slowly slipping back into her violent mood. "Just do it you bitch, just do it!"

"Hey, fuck you!" I grabbed her flank roughly. "You can't just snap at me all of the sudden and blame, hormones, now calm the fuck down!" I plunged my fingers deep into her sopping wet pussy, engulfing them in a hot mess as Foxglove tightened up. "Sick of your damn attitude."

Foxglove just groaned huskily as I slid my fingers in and out of her sloppy insides. "Fuu-uuu-uuck!" She threw her hips back, impaling herself on my fingers as she dripped down my arm.

"Why is it that Luna thinks it's just fine to drug all her employees!? I just realized, it happens a lot doesn't it!?"

"Ben- you- fucker- harder! Deeper! Faster!" Foxglove pleaded, leaning forward and forcing me to speed up my fingering. I dug deep, pushing my thumb forward and prodding her ass. "Wait- Ben wait- Be-eeeen!"

She locked up on a particularly deep prod, my fingers squeezed tight by her swollen sex. I dug my thumb just inside her rear, causing her back legs to go bolt stiff and lift her flank high. I pulled back, thrusting my fingers in deep and causing her to shoot a squirt of fem jizz onto the sheet. "Sweet mother bucker!" Foxglove moaned, squirting against the sheet and dribbling down her stomach. "Ho-hooooooo...."

"What ever...." I picked her up, turning her to a window and cupping her breasts. "Better?"

"Hoohoohooooooyeah." Foxglove groaned, obviously enjoying my slow kneading and squeezing. She purred softly as I stared out the window, pulling her bra down and feeling her rock hard nipples against my palm.

I enjoyed the amazingly squishy sensation, and idly kneading. Foxglove slowly went to sleep as I massaged her swollen breasts. I continued after she went to sleep, mindlessly working her supple body and staring out at the town below. I couldn't sleep, not with such a fascinating experience awaiting me.

"Kchuuuuuuuuuuuuu- kuckh-" Foxglove let out a deep, silence shattering snore.

I stared down at her. "Breath through you nose! Breath through- oh screw it."

Welcome To Transylmania

I walked around the train car, sun barely starting to head towards the horizon. I was utterly restless, pacing about like a madman. I wandered about the train car until finally caving and heading towards the engine. The air was crisp, clean, a little cold even. I charged into the engine, finding Bane laying on his back and reading some magazine.

"Hey dude, what's up?" He flipped through his magazine. "Hey, check this out."

I walked over to him, "What's- oh dude, I've got a...huh...." He flipped over another page. "That's...how...how do ponies have pubes?!" I asked with a snap.

"It's all dye and stuff, but it's nice right? Gotta love a little color." Bane stated with a dirty laugh. "Anyways, did you need something?"

I scratched my head. "I was gonna ask if it was time to head down," I looked out the window. "Do you always look at porn first thing in the morning?"

Bane scoffed, "I've been living under Luna, jobless, bored, horny, this is my first job since...since a long time. So yeah, force of habit."

"Give me that thing!" I yanked the magazine from him. I looked over the smut filled pages, pony after pony, pegasus, earth, unicorn and Cadance. "Wow...I...I was gonna ask how they made this, but I think I get it...." I flipped through Cadance's sections. "Isn't she married?"

"Aren't we all--"

"No...we're not." I ogled a soft blue unicorn, splayed out, O-face perfect as she laid across a silk sheet. Her hooves roamed her body as the pictures went on, slowly working their way down her stomach, "I'm...gonna keep this."

"Not that one...." Bane reached under his cot. "That's...kinda crusty."

"Oh Jesus!" I chucked the magazine at the wall. "God damn it!"

Bane just started laughing. "Here, I got a bunch of copies. I tried to give them to the old-schoolers, but they called me a heathen...."

I grabbed the magazine from him. "Anyways...we ready to go?"

Bane shrugged, his expression rather bored. "I guess." He hopped off his cot and went to the machinery. "Go on, settle in and I'll start it up."

I took another copy of the magazine and started heading back to the passenger car. I stumbled forward into the door as the train suddenly lurched forward. "Piece of shit!" I snapped at the train. "Ow...."

Bane's voice rang out from the engine, "sorry. Not used to riding with others!"

"No shit! I could tell by all the porn!" I carefully made my way out of the engine, slowly making my way into the passenger train. I found Foxglove curled up on the bed, slowly coming to. "Hey, I'm back." I plopped down next to her. "And I brought porn."

Foxglove just glared at me, mane frazzled, eyes annoyed. "Ben...." Her voice was clear.

I stood up, setting a magazine down and heading towards the fuel car. She grabbed the magazine and started flipping through it, leaving me to watch as the sun set, lanterns were lit in the town below and we chugged our way towards it. It was beautiful, a small mountain town nestled against the foot of a valley wall, burning orange in the sunset light.

I peered back into the passenger train, watching Foxglove abuse a curled up magazine and read her copy. I frowned a little and went back to watching the town. We slowly pulled into town, a crowd already gathering at the miniature station. I let out an excited squeal as we coasted in.

Foxglove wandered out, "Ben...we're here?"

"We're in Transylmania, yes."

Foxglove took a deep breath. "I couldn't finish...," She sounded legitimitly sad. "Nervous."

I knelt down to her, "Nervous? W--" I stopped dead as I heard something land on the train. "Behind me?"

Foxglove nodded, eyes averting from the creature. A horridly raspy voice broke the silence. "Krossa, verduk',"

Foxglove took a deep breath and stepped back. "Krossa, human." Foxglove motioned for me to turn around.

I slowly peered behind me, a rather long silvery maned pony was standing on the fuel tanker above me, her coat a slate grey ordeal and eyes a bright white. "Uh...hello."

The creature frowned hard. "Krossa neh drooga thesse?"

Foxglove walked next to me. "Neh, drooga equs."

The feral looking bat pony rolled her eyes. "Foreigners... how typical." Her voice was like butter, with a heavy bite to it. "Well...don't just stand there like a damn fool. You're here, explain yourself!"

I felt myself growing extremely intimidated as more and more scraggy looking bats landed on the train. Bane watched from a window, a look of panic on his face. "I'm...Ben Wesk, I was, given- some-" A rather large bat thudded to a halt in front of me. "-land in north east Equestria. This was-- Alright what the fuck!?" I looked at the growing crowd. "Foxglove?!"

"Ben, you're food to them."

"Oh fuck...are you--"

"That depends." The first bat mare laid down and looked me over. "Viduk!" At her word the crowd backed up a step. "Continue."

I rubbed my face and flicked my thumb across my fang. "Apparently I'm a count, and they gave me some land up here."

"Under who's authority?" Her voice caressing the t, making it roll off her tongue like silk from a loom.

"Princess Luna." I stated calmly.

The pony atop the fuel tank just laughed. "The banished, so we are to simply allow her to send some, creature, to our land and proclaim his rule?"

"Never said that--"

"Then why are you here?" The mare asked, rolling onto her back and letting her mane spill over the edge of the tank. "Hmm? Not some strange conqueror, not some sort of invader. Prey perhaps, but why would a rabbit walk into a wolves' den?"

I shrugged. "Exploring cultures, and it wasn't actually my idea." I looked down to Foxglove. "Well...."

Foxglove took a deep breath.  "I wanted him to meet all of you...and...Arder belongs to us now."

The mare on high frowned hard. "Is that so? Because Luna said it was yours?" She stood and looked down at me. "What are you creature, what are you that Luna would give an alien creature a noble title!?"

"Human, father to a generation of your god damn people!" I snapped, matching her aggression in kind. "Look if you wanna start shit, let's start shit!"

The mare's judgmental frown hardened. "Is that so? Urik, neh." The crowd and Foxglove took a step back. "You're representing your race...make it count."

The mare lunged at me, fangs bared. I dodged right, slamming my ribs into the guard rail. The mare spun around, digging her hooves into the grit of the metal floor and running at me. I caught her with my foot, the mare biting me and jamming her fangs through my shoe. "What the fuck!?"

"Ben! You're gonna want to actually fight!" Foxglove yelled, landing with the others. "Like, you're gonna wanna hit her!"

I looked back to the mare on my leg. She was like a rabid dog, tearing at my leg like mad. I grabbed the railing and kicked her off. "Lunatic!"

"Heretic!" She shot back, lifting herself off the ground. "Fight me!"

I hopped the railing, landing hard on the broken concrete platform. "Fine! Let's go then bitch!" I got into my best pose and brought my arms up. The mare circled me like a wolf.

"You're interesting! I'll allow you such!"

"And you're a bloody fruitcake!" I ran at the mare, kicking at her. The mare kicked my leg down with her forelegs. I fell to my left knee, my right leg stretched out fully. The mare stepped onto my outstretched leg and run up towards me. I threw my arms in front of my neck, having a pair of fangs bite deep into my wrist. "Bitch!" I grabbed the mare, twisting my body forward and slamming her into the ground.

She let out a pained grunt and tried to stand. "Off!"

"Fuck no!" I jammed my weight against her, rolling atop her and putting into a full nelson. "Psycho!"

The bat mare kicked and screamed, her silvery mane flying about like mad and her tail slapping my thigh. "Krossa- vina ros--

"Oh shut up!" I snapped my head down, sinking my teeth into her neck and biting down hard. She went wild, kicking and grumbling, trying to get free. I kept my weight on her, arms wound around her forelegs and head. The mare slowly went docile, her kicks growing weaker and weaker, voice turning from breathing grunts of exertion to soft whimpers of acceptance.

"Um...Ben, you can stop."

I kept on, jamming myself tight against her and shifting my grip. She was trapped, docile, I had won.

"Ben...seriously."

I felt something press against my groin as the mare's tail wrapped around my leg. I bit a little harder, making the mare whimper softly.

"Back off bitch!" I felt something clock me over the back of the head. "Get the fuck off my fucking mate!"

The beating continued until I let up. "Hey- ow- fuck- ow!" I let go and backed away from the painful kicks to the head. "What the hell?"

Foxglove bristled at the downed mare. "Try something and I will end you, bitch!"

The downed mare let out a pleased moan. "Perhaps later...." She stood and ran her hoof over her neck. "Interesting...certainly rather...virile. I am starting to understand." The mare smiled seductively at me. "Very well, you can stay. But not at Ader."

"Alright!" I got to my feet. "Can someone tell me what just happened?!"

Foxglove disarmed herself. "You mounted her. She submitted...so...you- Look it doesn't mean anything alright!"

I held my hands out and looked around at the growing crowd. "No! It's not alright, Foxglove, what does it mean!?"

Foxglove grew a little red. "You're supposed to fuck her...." She rubbed her face. "You mount a mare, you bite her, she's yours for a...a...a night." She turned to me with a heavy frown. "Please don't though...Ben...please don't."

"I wasn't planning on it!" I snapped back. "Weight is leverage, leverage is key! I didn't mount shit!"

Foxglove let out a short huff. "Thank Luna you're stupid." She ran over and threw her hoof around me. "Now- ...." She locked up. "...Ben...I'm leaking aren't I?"

I held her back a step, her bra soaked through and dripping. "Uh, yep."

Foxglove start huffing. "I- why!? Why the fucking buck, bucker bucking fuck...why does it have to be me?"

I rubbed my head, spotting a mood swing from a mile away. "Oh god...."

"It's always me Ben, always! I get a job, I get boobs, I get milked like a cow!" I grabbed her and put her over my shoulder. "I try to do good and some bitch tries to rape you--" I put my hand in her mouth. "No, I don't--" again, "Stop--" and again. We went back and forth until finally she started chewing and calmed down.

I spotted the silver maned one leaning against a wall. "Krossa, I said you could go." She added a heated smile. "Or are you taking your place at my side?"

I glared at her. "Back up bitch." She didn't seem to understand the insult. "You're gonna explain shit or I'm gonna put my foot so far up your ass--"

"Alright, foreigner, I suppose it's fine."

"You'll be- Oh.... Take the wind out of my sails why don't ya." I let foxglove hang off my shoulder my hand jammed in her mouth. "Well, what's Arder?"

The mare cocked an eyebrow. Her silver brow bright against her slate grey coat. "You come to our land, knowing nothing?" She looked at Foxglove. "And bringing a pregnant mare?"

"Bitch I'm not--"

"Stay out of this!" I snapped at Foxglove, heart racing a mile a minute from the sudden surge of excitement. "Arder, what is it!?"

The bat mare chuckled softly. "Of stone and oak, Arder stands tall." She pointed to the castle in the background. "That, is Arder. But I can't let you go there."

"Like hell I can't!" I grabbed her by the mane with my free hand. "Take me there!"

The mare looked at me half liddedly. "My friend, I may be sympathetic, but the others." She looked around, drawing my attention to a growing crowd of fierce looking bats. "Might not accept you."

I was either going to back down and risk damaging my apparently fragile reputation, or stand tall and possibly die. "Hold this." I unloaded Foxglove onto the silver maned mare and stood tall. "My name is Benjamin Mathew Wesk, and I was appointed Count of this land, Count on Transylmania, any who oppose my rule will be dealt with harshly!" My heart was beating a mile a minute as I continued my bluff. "I am going to Arder, I am taking my place, and I am going to bring some life to this- this- this hell hole!"

The crowd bustled a little. The silver maned mare stepped before me. "Well, we have a reputation for rebellion and the nobles sent before you...they were rather delicious." She slid her sharp tongue along her lips. "Griffon meat, unicorn flesh, even a dog creature. And now you come, want to walk right into Arder and proclaim yourself a count!?"

I stared at her, addressing the crowd through her. "Yes. Yes I do."

The crowd grew angry, a few bats stepping forward to meet me. The silver mare smiled wide. "Krossa, birut dak Arder."

The bats that stepped forward nodded. "Ya keerk dak Arder."

"Alright, does someone want to--"

The silver maned one smiled. "They're going with you." The silver maned hugged Foxglove as she started to cry. "Find a sword of some sort...you're going to need it."

"What, why!?"

"Dracko" A bat pony said, walking over to me. "Rik Rik Dracko an Arder."

I looked to the silver mane and shrugged. She smiled and eased her expression. "Have you ever seen a Draco? It's like a miniature dragon."

I got caught up in her speech. "Alright...you're seriously trying to fuck me with your voice, please stop." I rubbed my ears to try and get her rolling words out of my head. "Great...so just to clear this up. I got here, now you're expecting me to go in and slay a fucking dragon? In a castle? In a Draconian land?!" I rubbed my temples. "Can I get drunk first?"

The silver mare smiled and closed her eyes. "Are you not intoxicated by our, intimacy?"

I felt slimy as her voice rolled over me. "God damn, there ya go again!"

"Sir, I can assure you, if I was truly set on making you my mate, you wouldn't have much of a say."

Foxglove let out an angry scream. "I'm gonna fucking kill this bitch!"

The silver mane stepped away. "What is wrong with her?"

I shook my hand left and right. "She's in heat."

Silver mane cocked her eyebrow once again. "As you say. My name is Moon Light by the way, your face reads of confusion."

I shook my head. "Oh hi new strange culture, what's that, you want to try and rape me? Okay! Oh, I have to fight a dragon thing just to get to my land? Okay! Oh, did I forget to ask your name? I'm so fucking sorry!"

A loud clanking came from my back. I turned around to find a few bat ponies in blue armor. "Reedie"

I looked to Moon Light. "I- fuck it." I grabbed a sword from a bat pony. "Things can't really get any weirder."

"Says the bipedal predator with cotton skin."

I looked down at my clothes. "It's a hoodie!"

"Ben...." Foxglove croaked out. "Just go. I'll be fine...but we need that place." She looked up at me, crying slightly. "Just don't die!"

I felt horrid as she started weeping. Light looked over to me. "You do know how to use that, yes?"

I looked at the sword in my hands. "It's a sword. I'll figure it out." I turned towards Arder, dark above the lantern lit town. "So...about that drink?"

Dracko

I swung my sword a little, trying to get a handle on it. It was heavier than it looked, but the weight meant this thing would chop anything apart in one go. It struck me as strange for ponies to have a sword, but of all the people, the bats would be the ones. I gave it a few more practice swings as I walked towards the castle.

Moon Light was waiting near the steps up. "Hello, korssa."

"God damn it! Stop trying to rape me!" I snapped at her, rubbing my ear. "It's like your tongue's in my damn ear."

Light made a kissy face and nipped at the air. "I can make that happen for you. You might not survive the ordeal, but I promise it will be better than dying to a Dracko."

I shook my head, almost bumping into a bat that was going with me. "I'm not gonna-- Wait, were you gonna kill me!?"

Light rolled her head slowly left and right. "Perhaps...perhaps not. You're a new creature, you have potential, not spoiled like the ponies that came before, the griffons that tried to fight. You, have a chance. Or, if you die, we will eat well for a while."

I just stared at her with a face full of horror. "That's not funny!"

"Who said I was joking, krossa--"

"Ben, my name is Ben, say Ben."

"Ben."

"Say, Ben please go save the princess."

"Wha--"

"Just say it!"

Light shook her head hard. "No."

"Fucking say it!" I snapped, shouting at her.

"Ben, ori preisa" She smiled cheekily. "Oh, I'm sorry. My Equs is rather lacking at time."

"Times," I corrected. "But good enough!" I started up towards the looming castle above. "Quick question. It's just one, right?"

Light shook her head. "Virrak, rikval Dracko?"

The bat to my right scratched his head. "I-too, I-ver, ferduk I-val"

"He thinks there should only be five left, maybe less."

I let out a despondent sigh. "Well...if I die, tell my wife- girl- tell Foxglove I made out with another mare. Oh...and that I love her." I started off towards the castle, rain suddenly pouring down as we walked. I looked up, finding two bats laughing on a cloud. "Yeah, thanks!" I turned to one of the armed bats by my side. "You don't--"

"Neh drogga Equs." He stated calmly, shaking his head.

"Great...." I walked up the steps with my foreign companions. "Why the hell am I even doing this? Foxglove just--" I stopped myself. My paranoia wasn't going to help and I could interrogate her later. I focused on the slippery black steps as my little gang marched up to the dark castle doors. They were rotted away and shredded along the lock.

I felt a twinge of nervousness as I walked up and past the doors. "Arder vis--" The bat to my left stopped dead. "Dracko."

I looked around, slowly stepping across the broken stone floor. "So...how big are these things-- Why the hell am I even asking you!?"

"I...speak, Equs. Not good, but speak." A bat shot back, walking ahead of me. "We, here stay. Keep safe exit."

"Wait, so you just came to watch!? Assholes!" I yelped nervously. "Fine!"

I marched with mock confidence, walking up down to the far end of the entry and down a hall. I spotted one of the creatures looking at me and froze. It was about pony height. I felt horrendously nervous as the creature skulked over, eyes twitching and hunched over posture rather terrifying.

It was a thin beast, skinny limbs with dense muscles moving behind the creature's thing snake like skin. I got into position as the creature got within a few feet. "Come on then you fuck...I...got...." I slowly lowered my posture as the creature walked up to me. "Uh...hello- hey!" The creature shoved me into a wall and walked past. "What the hell?" I lowered my sword, letting it clank against the floor. "What the hell am I, not good enough for you!?"

The Dracko walked into the main hall and found the two bats. They got into position as the Dracko started running at them. "Krossa, help!?" The two ponies brought spears to bear against the creature, only managing to keep it back a few paces. "Help!?"

I let out a short sigh and pulled the sword over my head. I ran over, yelling like an idiot, "Aaaaaaauh!" I pulled the sword down, slashing the lizard across the back. The creature let out a sharp howl. "Shut up!" I stepped back, getting a bit of room to gather momentum and, with a final thrust, jammed the sword through the creatures gut. "Next time don't ignore me!" I pulled back, letting the creature fall into a heap. "Jackass!"

The bats took a deep breath as the backed into a wall. "I-vek" He licked his lips and adjusted his forelegs. "They come."

A shrill squeal broke out above the jostling metal of our weapons. I looked at one of the bats, holding a spear limply. "Hey, give me that!" I yanked it from his grip and dropped the sword. "Please work, please work, please work!" I chanted to myself as I went to the hall the first had came from, bracing the spear like a stake in the ground.

I called upon all those days I'd spent watching documentaries, all those days playing games, latent knowledge collected over a lifetime of archaic studies.

I lodged the back of the spear in the broken floor and aimed the head at about gut height. "Come on- come on- come on!" I yelled to myself as another of the creatures spotted me. This one seemed a bit more interested, running at me. I held on tight, lowering the spear slightly and waiting. "Don't die, Ben, not like this." I said to myself, bracing for impact.

The creature tried to force the spear back, impaling itself as the handle of the spear jammed against the stonework. A sickeningly organic noise filled the air as the creature slowly slid down ,snarling and hissing as it fell against me, the spear lodge through its gut.

"Oh god- oh god- oooh." I cringed hard as the creature slumped against my shoulder. It felt disgusting, a large bleeding lizard limp against me. I let the spear go, shoving the creature aside and pressing my back against the adjacent wall. "Ha! Eat it!"

"More!" A bat yelped, rushing to my side. "More more more!" He tossed me my sword. "They come!"

I got back into position as an even higher pitched scream rang out. Three more smaller ones rushed the hall. I swallowed hard as the miniature creatures ran at us. "Are these...they seem a little, small--" I stopped as the mini beast jumped and latched onto my leg. A pair of curved fangs sank deep into my calf. "Holy shit!" My leg started burning immediately.

I reeled my sword up, hacking at the evil little bastards. They didn't put up much of a fight, but something felt wrong as I stomped the one on my leg. "God- damn--"

A loud, bassy roar came from the hall. I started feeling woozy, my brain swimming in muck as I spotted a large Dracko clawing down the hall. I backed up, joining the others in the main entry.

How did I get myself into this!? I was supposed to take care of babies, not risk my life for some crappy stonework. I wanna go home, I wanna take a nap.

My brain went haywire as the last of them burst into the main hall, running over to me and grabbing my by the head. I felt myself lift off the ground, dangling by my neck and trying to keep from dying. I flailed and kicked, striking the creature in the soft stomach. I kept kicking the creature as it slowly crushed me.

My poisoned mind slowly lost function as the creature increased the pressure. I started fading away as the creature's eyes went to pinpricks. I closed my eyes, feeling my head slam against the floor. I let go, slipping away as my senses deadened.

Time stood still as I drifted into a black haze.

I simply floated away, my mind clearing as the darkness encroached.

"Ben, awaken." A royal voice boomed, snapping my eyes open and revealing a pure white room. I looked around, watching as Luna materialized from the white fog. "Benjamin, hello!"

"Uh...hi." I stood up. "I uh...am I dead?"

"Hardly. But first, I believe this is the first time we've spoken." She bowed softly. "A pleasure, Count Wesk."

I looked around and bowed in turn. "Yeah...a pleasure. But where are we?"

Luna let out a short grumble. "How to explain, you're not asleep. You were relived of consciousness, and generally speaking, their minds don't dream." She stood tall. "But, I felt a talk was necessary."

I looked around the endless white fog. "Alright...so...it's about Transylmania?"

"Indeed." Luna curled her legs under her and settled in. "Join me."

I complied sitting cross legged next to her. "It's kinda nice in here, quiet."

"Indeed. Now, I expect next time you wish to travel to a foreign land, you will consult me first."

I took a deep breath. "It wasn't exactly my idea. I mean, I went, I thought it would be interesting."

"You mate, I know. She has an agenda to your arrival."

"What!?" I snapped, leaning towards her. "What the hell does that mean?"

She looked at the floor. "Family matters, of which you are now waist deep into." She smiled softly. "I enjoy knowing how well the thestrals have bonded with your people."

"Thestrals?"

"Oh...I'm sorry, the bat ponies." Luna nodded a few times. "I would not suggest calling them bat ponies, or, bats."

"So what it's like...a proper name?" I propped myself up with my hand behind my back. "Well...I guess that makes sense."

"Indeed. But, your- Ben...are you alright?"

I started squirming around, an strange sensation smoldering in my lap. "Fine- just a little- what the crap!?"

Luna stared straight ahead for a few moments. I continued to try and wiggle free of the strange feeling. "Oh- oh dear...the...Moon Light is--"

"It's in my groin...and...we're in my brain...so.... Am I getting raped?!?"

Luna blushed a little and turned away. "She seems to have taken quite an interest in you."

"She's a nutcase! I get here, she tries to kill me, and now I'm getting dream raped!" I stood up and tried not to shift around too much. "Damn it!"

"Ehem, at any rate. I'm not pleased with your sudden departure. Your duty to the children is not going to be disregarded."

I rubbed my lap, dancing around like a fool. "What the he- what does that mean?"

Luna took a deep breath. "We are aware you are going to be residing in Arder."

"Residing is a strong word. I was gonna leave tomorrow!"

Luna smiled and shook her head. "Ben...you're not going to leave. They won't let you."

"What?!" I asked with a bit of heat behind my otherwise calm voice.

"You proclaimed your rule, they will keep you there until you either prove yourself, or die." Luna stood up, walking over and wrapping a wing around me. "But, your foals are worried. Your break has been too long."

"But- I--"

"And so, we shall be sending aid to your new charge, your stead." She walked me along the fog. "We understand the town may be a bit underdeveloped, but we trust you to rectify this and provide your children with a safe home."

"Wait...my kids!?"

"Oh yes. You may be bound to the township, but that does not change your bond. The foals under your name shall be brought on a train upon its return."

"Whoa, back up! This place is not sa--"

"We shall be sending a small unit of guards to you, we will reestablish trade and attempt to enlighten our subjects." Luna hurried me along through the fog as I continued to dance about. "You are brave for undertaking this, and you shall have my aid in every capacity."

I scratched my head hard. "So...if I send a list of supplies with Bane, will you make sure I have everything beforehand?"

Luna cocked her head. "It will come out of your treasury."

"Treasury!? I- what the hell is going on!?" I pulled free of Luna and stepped away. "I'm a babysitter, not a politician!"

Luna stomped her hoof. "Count Wesk, you are a Count, you have responsibilities to your town!" Luna looked around nervously. "Ben...may we speak in confidence?"

"Are we not!? We're in my head!"

"We need somepony to manage the town. We have tried, but--"

"They killed them...great."

"We have faith in you Ben. We have faith." She smiled at me, slowly turning to a frown as she looked down at my groin. I joined her gaze and spotted a wet spot on my groin. "Ben...I believe you have released."

"Yep...at least some part of me is having fun." I sat down and curled up. "How much money is there?"

"Do not worry, we shall aid you to start. I imagine Arder is rather abused, we shall send you everything we can."

I took a deep breath. "Thanks Luna...and also, fuck you." I stood up and hugged her. "You made my life thirty times more complicated with two quick steps, and you've given me an amazing new life. So...yeah, fuck you, and I love you."

Luna backed away. "You are a strange creature Benjamin, good luck."

I nodded, suddenly falling. "Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!" I screamed loudly as the formless floor gave way, sending me into a pure white free fall. "Ooooh my god!"


"Aaaah!" I snapped upright, in some dark leaky room with a warm heat ambient in the air. I looked around, straw and stone, wooden shelves, very rustic.

I was bare on a bed, my body horridly sweaty. I flung my hands out, finding something strange beneath my hand. "Uh--"

The sheet popped upright, revealing a frazzled silver mane popping out. I was met with a sultry gaze from a pair of silver eyes. "Congratulations, Krossa, enjoy your conquest." Moon Light laid her head back down, nuzzling against me.

I just laid my head down and stared at the roof. "I'm gonna die...."

"No, I have told the town to leave you be."

"Not from you!" I shot upright. "From Foxglove you idiot!" I clutched my head. "Oh god...she's gonna bite my dick off."

"Over my dead body perhaps." Moon Light stated, rising from the bed. "Your life is not entirely your own. You are property to many, including myself."

"Yeah well I already pinned you! I can survive you! Foxglove.... She's fucking scary!" I rubbed my head with my wrist. "Oh god...what is my life?"

"Short." A familiarly husky voice broke the rustling. Foxglove stood in the doorway. "Slut."

Family Matters

I watched in horror as Foxglove walked over to the side of the bed. "Ben...you're gonna want to leave now."

I crawled off the bed, landing on the floor with a loud thud, my legs refusing to work. "Uh...Foxglove I--"

"Oh, his old mate." Light shook her mane, throwing her coverings off. "I'm sorry to--" She was cut off by Foxglove kicking her with her foreleg. "Oh! You want to fight!?"

Foxglove adjusted her bra. "Bitch, he's mine!"

Moon Light just sneered. "Fine, we shall fight for the meat. First to submit shall relinquish the Krossa."

I pulled myself up using a shelf. "I don't even know you!"

"Ben, shut up!" Foxglove snapped at me. "If she wants to fight for you, I'll fucking kill her!"

"As if you--" Foxglove lunged at Light, tackling her and taking her to the floor. "Iddiki!? Mar-aga so--

"Sookiin, mar-aga derova!" Foxglove shot back, hissing angry and slamming herself and Light into the wall. A few bottles crashed to the ground as the bed slid across the floor, nearly pinning me to the wall.

I watched as the mares struggled for dominance, hooves flying, fangs flashing, the room growing more and more broken. It was truly insane.

A pair of bat ponies walked into the doorway, ignoring the violent clash and looking around, finally spotting me flailing in the corner. "Benjamin, hello." A dark red maned mare nodded at me.

I sat on the floor trying to regain the feeling in my legs. "Uh...hi."

The mare smiled wide and nodded. She turned to the other bat by her side, "Dov, help him."

Another deep red maned pony walked over, putting his head under my arm and helping me to my numb feet. "Sir'a, can you walk?" he asked calmly.

I tried to stand, failing over and over again and dragging more and more off the shelf. "Uh. Yes- no- yes- no- yes.... No."

The mare walked over, kicking the bed into the brawling duo. "Still poisoned... here." She took a bottle from her pack and held it for me. "Force it back quickly, we need to get going."

I threw back the paste like brew. "Oh geez...like drinking plastic."

The stallion gestured for me to hold onto him. "How much do you weigh?" he asked, voice honest and not judgmental.

I scratched my head. "Uh, one-eighty?" I guessed, unsure of the last time I weighed myself.

The stallion nodded. "I can lift that."

"You can?"

The stallion bowed proudly. "We are not like the feathered ones. We are not made for speed, we are made for power."

I wrapped my arms around the stallion's neck, feeling myself lift off the ground as the pony flapped his leathery wings. "Whoa...this is kinda freaky."

The mare walked over face to face with me. "Indeed, and before we go any further, it is good to meet you. I am Pursa," she turned to the stallion, "Dov Arder, and...," she gestured to the door as a final stallion walked in. "Carve."

The apparent Carve walked in and sat down in the corner. "Hello...I'll make sure they don't kill eachothe--"

"I'll fucking kill you skank- fucking bitch!" Foxglove screamed, popping above the bed only to be pulled back down in a flash. Carve just shook his head and tried to join the fray, failing and sitting back to watch them fight.

The mare looked over at them and shook her head. "Perhaps your introduction might have been better if we had known you were coming. Oh well, come, time is wasting." She turned to the door, leading Dov through the mare war zone while dragging me along for the ride. I just held onto his neck as my numb legs dragged against the floor.

I watched as I was whisked through a medieval style hovel, complete with thatched roof and assorted glassware just sitting out in the open. It struck me as strange, like I was thrown back in time, and being carried by a magical flying creature wasn't doing anything to change that. "Hey...so, I need to get to the train."

Pursa nodded. "Indeed, our home is rather small, we would be better to talk in the train than in a hut."

I scratched my head a little. "Not what I meant, but that sounds okay.... This might be a bit awkward, considering you're trying to help, but who are you?"

Pursa let out a familiar laugh. "Can you not tell? Foxglove said your species was perceptive. I suppose maybe the venom is still clouding your mind."

I looked at the two thestrals. "Uh...red...red...r- oh...ooooh...."

Dov started bellowing as he carried me towards the train. "There is a reason we speak the same."

I let out a nervous laugh as I watched the town go about its usual night, calm streets filled with ponies bustling around. It was calming, the dirt paths and rustic, if not archaic, style homes setting the mood just right. It was like being thrown back to a middle ages' peasant town, will all the smells and sights to go along with it.

I adjusted my grip, looking over my living transportation. "So...I guess--"

"Yes, we're family. Or rather, whenever Foxglove decides to stop screwing around, we will be." Pursa stated, smiling softly. "It is good to meet you, have I said that yet?"

I looked at the elder mare, her mane beautifully long and thick. "Uh..you're- there's no way you're Foxglove's mother. You're not nearly crazy enough." I shot back, my voice echoing as we left the crowded streets of the housing area and entered a market.

"Oh?" Pursa let out a rough cough. "Ben, stop your constant whining you annoying bastard!" she said, matching Foxglove's accent perfectly. "Am I close?" she asked with a cheeky grin, all to familiar from her apparent daughter.

Dov chuckled slightly as he carried me up to the platform. "Not many here speak Equs, but...when your sister is dating a foreigner, you tend to learn."

"Oh...so.... I uh...you're not gonna kill me are you?" I asked, spotting the train in the distance. We were either making excellent time, or more likely this place was an absolute sprawl, clumped so tightly you could reach anywhere in a matter of minutes.

Dov giggled raspily. "Keep making me laugh and you'll be alright." He set me down on the steps up to my train car, finally giving me a real view of the town. It was charming in a dark kinda way. Dim streets, ponies arguing, water running down the trenches dug beside the dirt paths.

The ponies walked past me and into the train car. "Impressive! Ben, would you like help?" Pursa asked, poking her head out of a window.

I started rubbing my legs, trying to revive them. I looked around at the tightly packed houses and the small market we had crossed. "Uh, no. I'll just sit here for a bit."

Pursa nodded and ducked her head in. I sat staring at a pair of ponies flirting. I laughed a little and leaned back on the steps. "Courting of a bat. Bite, bend, bang."

"Indeed." Dov's voice rang out over the soft tussle of the pair in the market. "Perhaps you shouldn't have pornography around my mother." He threw down a pair of magazines. "Just a note...I'm...going to take one."

I shot him a knowing glance. "Page thirty."

Dov sat with me and flipped through the pages. His eyes went wide as he got to a navy blue and white mare. "Harrim verduk...." He stared down at the page, scanning it like a hawk. "I...I'll return...I need to hide this--" He took to the air, slowly moving towards the rooftops.

"Hold up!" I grabbed him by the tail. "Just hide it in the train. I think I'm starting to understand why Foxglove brought me here."

Dov fumbled from my touch, falling chin first in the dirt. He laid on the ground, slowly rolling onto his back and staring angrily at me, "Ow...why you do this?"

I laughed guiltily. "Sorry, I was gonna say just hide them on the train." I held my hand out. "Or I'll hide them."

Dov slowly pulled the magazines from the dirt and placed them into my hand. "Fine...brother."

It felt strange having him call me brother. Even if he meant it in a friend kind of way it felt strange. He walked past me and back into the train, holding the door open as I slowly regained the feeling in my legs. "F-fuck!" I screamed, my legs falling out from under me and bashing my ribs against the floor of the train car.

The two in the train cringed as I went limp across the floor of the car and the steps "Oh dear, Dov, help him."

Before I could protest I felt myself dragged into the car and laid across the wood floor. "Ow...thanks."

"Is no problem." Dov walked off, finding a seat on the couch and sinking into it.

I sat upright and faced the bats. "So...mind if I ask how the hell I ended up back there? What the hell happened?"

Pursa sighed. "Where to start. You killed the Dracko children, almost got strangled to death by the adult, but you did kill them."

Dov laughed a little. "They said you kept it distracted. Then somepony jammed a blade into the creature's gut."

I scratched my head. "Oh.... But I did it? Did I win?"

Pursa got my attention. "Sort of, you did enforce your claim. You were bit, so they brought you out and left you to the nearest pony who said they knew you, Moon Light of course."

"Oh course they did." I grumbled angrily. "I think I get it from there--"

"Apparently she took you home and tried to bandage you, and...took your seed."

I grumbled angrily. "I think--"

"But, in the end. You helped, and Moon Light made a promise, the land will be yours under her protection." Pursa bowed her head. "And of course you have our support."

I let out a short sigh. "Is that because you're--"

The door to the train swung open before I could finish. Foxglove rolled inside, quickly followed by a battered Moon Light. The second brother, Carve, walked in. "They called it a draw...." He stated, shaking his body and flexing his wings.

"No...no...I...won." Foxglove croaked, crawling over to me. "I...fucking fucked her up!" She laid her chin across my thigh and went limp. "I...did it."

She looked terrible. Bites, bruises, small cuts and a few patches of dried blood in her coat. Moon Light hadn't fared much better, her silver mane bloodied slightly and her grey coat rather battered. I turned to the bigger brother. "There's a guy in the front car. Ask him if he's got a first aid kit or something."

The brother nodded and headed off. I turned to the remaining bats and shrugged. "What's his name?"

Foxglove coughed, a bit of blood leaking from her split lip. "Carve."

"Huh," I pet my battered mate's mane. "Odd."

A tired voice croaked out, "There is, nothing strange--" Moon Light crawled over, resting against my calf. "Nothing...strange, about Carve." She tried to lift her head, only managing to bop her jaws together and flop limply across my leg.

"Back off... bitch!" Foxglove snipped, hazily throwing her hoof onto Light's head and trying to bite her. "I'll...I'll...I'll do something."

Between her grunts I looked around, spotting several bats perching on the train and watching me. I let out a short sigh and turned to Pursa. "They're not gonna let me leave, are they?"

"No...and neither will I. We need someone to try and control this town." Pursa walked over and sat before me. "But that will come in time. So...you think you understand my daughter's intentions?"

I nodded, rubbing Foxglove's head. "She wants the castle for you, right?"

Pursa nodded. "But, we are not simply looking for a home--"

"She want's to rebuild us all, to start something powerful." Carve stated, dumping a red bag before me. "Fox, tell him."

I unzipped the kit and started soaking cotton swabs with rubbing alcohol. I dabbed it across her body, Foxglove letting out a sharp scream as I cleaned her, "fuck Luna's butt, that burns!"

I held her in place and continued to clean her up and start putting bandages over her cuts. "Check yourself," I finished with her tired face and laid her down. "So...is he telling the truth?"

Foxglove looked guilty as she spoke, "He's not wrong...he's...not right either. I'm tired of not having a say for us, for thestral- for bats! I'm tried of being second class to some stuffy day dwelling horny jerk!" Foxglove grabbed my leg. "Please don't hate me...I just didn't want you to think I was being selfish."

I rubbed her head and swapped her with Moon Light. I started cleaning her cuts, bandaging her the same way I bandaged Foxglove. "Hey, remember how we have a kid?"

"Don't bucking help her--"

I cut her off, "Remember how we have a kid!? Remember how you drugged me? How we had that date I blew off?" I asked, tending to the wounded.

Foxglove just glared at me and tried to stand. "I remember you asking me out...yes."

"Well I don't think you have to worry! I mean, I didn't quit after you drugged me, I stuck around when you nearly chewed through my tongue, I even stuck around after you did the roof thing! You're not getting rid of me that easy." I treated Light's cuts and set her next to Foxglove. "Jesus...look at you two."

Foxglove rubbed the bandage across her muzzle. "She started it--"

Light stamped her hoof and turned towards me, "I started nothing! Thank you lover."

"Eugh, I'm not your lover. You raped me, but I'm also not unconvinced you're not legally related to me." I turned to Pursa. "Am I?"

Pursa shook her head. "No, she is not part of ours."

I looked at the two mares. "Well they sure as hell act similar enough." I stood shakily and stretched my still numb legs out. "So are you two done?"

Foxglove stared at me. "She fucking raped you!"

I put my hands on my hips. "So did you! Remember when my tongue changed!? You fucking sucked it like a needy little filly!"

Foxglove grew bright red as she stared at her mother. She started laughing slightly and flattened out her ears, "He's joking mom...he's joking."

I shook my head angrily. "Doesn't matter! Apparently I'm too sexy, or something, I don't even know anymore. But the both of you need to stop acting like children! Because after all this, I'm about five seconds from lodging my shoe up someone's ass!"

"Even me?" Light asked, a sultry grin on her face.

I started her down, slowly whittling down her proud stance until she finally backed off. "Bitch, dead lizard men! Don't fuck with me!" I took a deep breath and lurched towards the door. "Look, it's been fun and all. But I need to get to work." I found a pencil and paper and started taking down a list. "Foxglove, take your brothers down to Canterlot, Luna said she was gonna send some supplies and I need someone to make sure we get them." I finished with my list and held it for her. "Take this, get everything, and come back."

Foxglove cocked her head. "Then what are you gonna do!?"

I took a deep breath and turned towards the window facing the castle. "I'm gonna take what's mine."

Foxglove shook her head hard, "Oh no, I'm not leaving you alone with that--"

I shook my head. "Foxglove...I won't be alone with her," I gestured to Pursa. "Now get the fuck to Canterlot, get the supplies, pack some personal stuff from the apartment and be ready." I struck a pose. "Whenever I can feel my legs and get a shower, we're gonna bang...hard."

Foxglove's ears perked up. "Ben, not in front--"

Pursa walked over, laughing heartily. "You sound like my husband. Always so impassioned." she walked to the door and pulled it open. "Well, come along then. We have land to claim."

I looked at the train of brothers, looking at a dirty magazine, Foxglove staring at me with a mix of embarrassment and worry, and Moon Light, slowly walking out of the train. She brushed against my side and stopped next to me, "It will be good to be alone with you, perhaps we can know each other again--"

I grabbed Moon by the mane. "Okay, knock it the fuck off!" I stomped my dead leg, the train tilting from the impact. "I will bury you if you try and touch me again!"

Moon tried to pull free. "Fine then, Krossa, my Count. I will leave you to your harridan." She pulled free and hopped out of the train."I shall keep your bed warm and waiting  for when your senses have returned."

I let out a short huff and carefully climbed down from the train. Foxglove popped out the door. "Ben...please--"

"Foxglove you will listen to me, you will do what I say for once in your god damn life!" I screamed, slamming the side of the train with my hands. "Okay?"

Foxglove shrinked down. "Okay...."

"Good." I walked to the front of the train and threw a rock at the engine. Bane popped out and looked over the safety rail. "Bane, train, Canterlot, now!"

Bane took a step back, nervously saluting and starting up the train. "Yes sir!"

I watched as the train slowly maneuvered the old station, turning around and heading back home. Pursa walked next to me and watch it leave. "Hmmm, impressive. Quite a presence about you."

I took a deep breath and rubbed my arms. "I feel angry...." I rubbed my legs as the numbness was slowly replaced by burning. "What exactly did you give me?"

Pursa scratched her chin. "Nickle powder, spring water and dragon testosterone. It cures paralysis."

The last ingredient bounced around my head. "Steroids...you drugged--" I let out a soft sigh. "You'd think I'd be used to getting drugged. But I keep letting it happen." I looked dourly towards the castle. "Come on. Let's get going."

Pursa nodded, "as you wish my Count."

I scoffed slightly, "I'm in wedlock with your daughter...just call me Ben. Or Benjamin." I scratched my head. "Or even Wesk."

"As you wish, Ben." With that, we started off towards the castle. My walking grew rather stiff as the feeling in my legs came back.

"Pursa...how long have I been like this?" I asked, pointing to my groin. A full on erection was threatening to tear out of my slacks.

"Since you entered the train."

"Of course.... God damn it." I scratched my head hard, digging against my scalp. "I need to go find a bathroom or something. Take care of this."

The Family of Poison

I walked with Pursa into the castle, the smell of blood still heavy in the air despite the corpses being disposed of. "So, Ben." Pursa walked next to me. "How do you like my daughter?"

I scratched my head as a pair of thestrals walked around the main hall. "Well, she's interesting. The phrase, sexually repressed and needy comes to mind."

Pursa let out a sad sigh, "This does not surprise me."  She took a hard left down a wide hall. "If memories serves there should be a forum this way."

I followed her, holding a lantern before me while navigating the path. "I mean, don't get my wrong. I don't mind the sex, I don't my her quirks, but other people like to talk."

Pursa pushed into a large half circle room, bleachers lining the far wall and a pulpit in the center. "I understand, and thank you for your candor." She walked onto the pulpit and looked over the roman style forum. "Sit a while, perhaps I can enlighten you."

I took a seat on the nearest stone step and settled in. "About what?"

Pursa tapped her hooves on the broke stone. "Of us, of my family, of your mate, my sons." She hopped down and paced before the seats. "Ben...her father took her long ago. She knew my name, our language, and one day she was just gone." Pursa look a shaken breath, "Her father left us, my two sons, our life, our town. He thought he could give her a better life I think."

I cringed at the implications.

Pursa caught herself on the edge of tears. "He was always so idealistic. So bright eyed, looking towards the future." She dabbed her eyes with her foreleg. "But I knew how horrid it would be for her, how detrimental changing her life so drastically would be." She took a deep, shaky breath. "She would never find a colt, never fall in love like a normal mare. She would not know our ways, our alchemy, our life. But what was I to do? I had two young boys to care for, to raise properly."

I rubbed my mouth, choosing my words very carefully. "So...where is he now?"

"Dead," she stated calmly, "Killed by some robber a year after he left. And my baby, she was kept from us, kept in some orphanage, kept away from us. To try and introduce a generation raised in their culture." Pursa bit her lip hard. "But I knew, I knew how hard it would be for her, knowing where she came form, what she had, only for it to be ripped away." She folded her legs and laid on the cold stone below. "Benjamin...I am sorry, but my daughter will never be normal. She is caught between worlds, caught between peoples, and all I can hope for is that she chooses a direction with her life, and stays true to it."

I swallowed hard. "I don't care." I stated coldly. "I don't care about how she acts, how screwed up you think she is. She's crazy, she's needy, she's lustful, prideful and wrathful. But she's mine. And maybe I can't fix her, but I can sure as hell help her find her place."

Pursa lowered her head, letting out a single laugh. "Countus, Benjamin Wesk. Patricha am' nocte" She laughed softly. "I understand your title. But answer me this. What will come of those you will bring to this land? What will you teach them?" She walked over to me and looked up, staring me in the eyes with her cold hazel gaze. "How true a life can you give those children, with no family, a confused culture, a--"

I stood in a flash, towering over her and watching my blue eyes reflect in her own. "They have a family, they have a father, they have a community, a teacher, a heritage. Even if I have to create it for them!" I ducked down, wrapping my arms around Pursa's neck. "This was never in my plan, to become some hero, but I'll step up. I have to, if not for the kids, if not for Foxglove, than for myself."

Pursa leaned against my head, nuzzling against my temple. "You know...the first thing I heard from her, the first word after thirteen years, was a plea for advice on finding a mate. On taking care of herself, finding friends, finding purpose." She pressed her against against the crook of my shoulder. "Ben...I was scared for her, I was scared she would find no one. Become an abused wife to some unicorn noble, and while you are not of our kind...I cannot say you were a poor choice."

I rubbed the distraught mare's back, trying to comfort her. "I got called crazy too. I lived in the city, but grew up on a farm. People used to call me a hick, said I fucked the barn animals, it fucked me up. But now I have a chance, maybe not for my own life, but I can help Foxglove, I can help you, I can help the foals. And I have to try. Even if I fail, I have to try."

Pursa pushed back. "You...." She let out a short, embarrassed chuckle. "Your people must be wise."

I scratched my head. "My- oh...humans. Well, we've lived through millennia of philosophy, peace, war, love and hate, times of great ingenuity, but also times of great hardship. We've learned a lot, and while we might not be the most intelligent at times, while we might be opinionated beasts, we're wise as a whole." I scratched my head as I stood up. "But I'm not wise, and neither are most people you're going to meet."

Pursa let out a soft sigh. "Wisdom takes time I suppose."

"Exactly. But, I'll do my best with what I know."

"I know you will, s-...."

I cracked a soft smile. "It's not official...but I think you can say it."

Pursa lowered her head, letting her mane conceal her face. "Thank you my son." She wrapped a hoof around my side and jammed her crown against my gut. "It may only be a chance, but I thank you for that much."

I rubbed my head, a bit embarrassed. "Uh...yeah. Anyways, we should look around some more. Start planning the repairs on the place."

"Indeed." Pursa pushed off, "May I ask you a favor? I have seen my daughter do it, and she tried to show me, but I cannot." She dug around her saddle bags, pulling out a hair tie. "My mane...she tied it behind her--"

I grabbed the tie and pulled her mane into a quick ponytail. "Better?"

Pursa blew a stray hair out of her face. Her expression rather tired, but a strong look was buried behind her tired eyes. "Much. Now let us begin!"

An Idiot Who Got Lucky

I rubbed my chin as I sat at the gates to Arder, waiting for Foxglove to arrive. Pursa had found me a knife and a mirror so I could clean up. "So tell me Benjamin, what do you think of our hamlet?" she asked, laying across a broken stone, splayed out as the sun slowly rose and ushered in the day.

I scratched my head, "It remind me of school." I finished off giving myself a rather imposing mustache, "...I majored in history back in college. This place...it's like stepping back in time." I checked my face, making sure I was cleaned up, "I look like Alexander John Cuza...minus the shitty beard."

Pursa just cocked an eyebrow, "Who?"

"Don't worry about it. He was...Romanian...Wallachian...I can't remember." I set the mirror and knife aside and run my fingers across my mustache. "Oh...the town, right. It's not really a hamlet, it's too big. It's a village." I looked over the town, Arder's raised position giving an excellent overlook. The town was rather dense, appearing to have expanded too quickly, sprawling over a small area to keep away from the apparent dead zones.

Pursa spotted what I was looking at, "Cattle fields.... Before the Drackos moved in, we used to herd cattle."

I looked over the bare land, a lush bowl maybe seven square miles walled by the mountains. A train ran to the mouth of the valley end, a sharp cliff formed from a waterfall, stemming from a river that ran from the north to the south end of the valley. The town was condensed into a small two mile radius around the castle. Narrow streets with only a few open areas littered the town, the only road wider than two meters was the sloped road up to Arder and down to the train.

I rubbed my mouth as I overlooked my new charge. "We're gonna have to tear this place down...start over...."

Pursa sat next to me as I adjusted myself atop a stone slab in the fallen courtyard. "They will not let you."

I licked my lips, "They're not gonna have a choice." I looked back to the castle, "The streets need to be widened, the roads need to be repaved, water drainage needs to be put in. This place is one matchstick from devastation, and one flood from ruin." I turned to Pursa, "How many are there in the town?"

She frowned hard, "Perhaps nine-hundred."

I spotted the train coming into the station, "Well...I'll find a way to make this place a jewel, even if it kills me." I stood and walked to the broken iron portcullis, "I have a massive extended family to take care of, to give a life, land, and happiness."

Pursa flew next to me, "Tell me then, Ben. Tell me of your history, what is it that drives you to this goal?"

I looked at her and leaned against the broken gate, "Who am I? Pfffffuuuh, I'm an idiot who got lucky." I dug in my pocket, finding a thin case I kept for emergencies. I opened it up, flicking a cigarette out and quickly burning through it. "Shit...." I looked down to my shaking hands, "Can you tell I'm nervous?"

"You should be." Pursa stated, putting her hoof on my leg, "You are to assume command of an entire village of oppressed people, put under the rule of an outsider. If an attempt on your life is not taken out within the month, I will be amazed."

I stared at her, "...You think they'll try and kill me?"

She nodded gravely, "Pick your guard well. But of course House An Arder will stand with you to our deaths."

I took a deep breath, "About that, why are you--"

"We are descended from the old guard."

"Ah.... First year back in the castle?"

Pursa nodded, pointing to Foxglove as she trotted with a fleet of hard hatted workers. Pony and human, man and women, carrying carts full of stone, wood, and assorted building supplies. Aside Foxglove trotted a blue maned bat stallion with glasses. Pursa grabbed my arm with her teeth, "We will speak again. For now I will gather those I trust, and attempt to build an army."

I stopped her, "...Find Moon Light."

Pursa pulled her tail free, "She was going to be my first stop."

I nodded, knowing if ever there was going to be a better personal guard, it would be that mare. For all her mania, and strange behavior, she was too invested in my life to simply let me die. I stood proud below the broken arch leading into Arder. Foxglove and the blue mane walked up, "Ben...what's on your face?"

I ducked down, giving her a quick kiss, "Mustache. Now are the foals here?"

Foxglove shook her head, "I told them to wait a day or two."

"Good lass." I stood, giving her a pat on the rear and leading her behind me, "I had a bed moved into the master bedroom, go ahead and--"

"A cameraman is coming...I'll go after that." Foxglove stated, standing by my side.

I decided not to argue with her and addressed the blue mane. He beamed at me, bowing his cropped blue mane and talking, "Sir, an absolute pleasure to meet--"

I stuck my hand out, meeting his hoof with my fist. I decided not to piss around the point and spoke frankly, "Look, we have work to do. Keep it quick."

The blue mane took a nervous step back, "O-of course. My name is Boxwood, I developed the night potion that changed you. Now- why I'm here...." he pulled a bundle of old papers and some modern folders from his bag, "I have- passed out the old plans for this castle to the workers. Say the word and I'll have them start repairing it."

I pushed him aside and stood before the growing crowd of workers, the vast majority earth ponies and unicorns. "Listen now, and listen well. My name is Benjamin Wesk, Count of this land. I hereby instruct any and all willing personnel to start the reconstruction of this main road and the castle walls. The castle will be your home until you finish, so I suggest you get to work!"

The crowd jumped, several ponies and a single women in red hardhats yelling and assembling groups. Boxwood turned to me, "I- wow.... Um, Count?"

I turned to him with a calm look, "What?"

He seemed to be either unnerved or excited by my presence. "First...let me say, you are my single greatest achievement. Now, if you will permit me I was also to offer my services in city planning and as a steward. I can help plan reconstruction, manage funds--"

I put my hand on his head, "Fine...and shut up." I tapped my fingers on his nerdy crown, "Go do what you can in the castle, find a place to set up some planning areas."

He looked up at me from between my fingers, "...Is it bad if I have an erection right now?"

I stared at him with a rather mean glare, breaking into a full blown laugh a few seconds in, "Holy shit...I fucking needed that." I let myself laugh, "Phew, no seriously, go get to work."

Boxwood stopped laughing suddenly, "Yes sir." he trotted awkwardly past, apparently not lying about his male issue.

Left alone I walked over to Foxglove as she overlooked the town, "Ben...."

"Foxglove." I sat down in the dirt next to her, "Excited?"

She started to cry suddenly, "You know...I think it's starting to sink in.... It's happening."

I put my arm around her and held her against my head, "It's gonna be rough...I can tell...." I rubbed her mane as she wrapped her tail around my side, "We're gonna need doctors, dentists, architects and a source of income." I turned my head, kissing the base of her ear, "I have no idea how we're gonna do it--"

"But we're gonna do it...." She stood and stepped in front of me, pressing herself against my ribs, "We, remember that. You're not alone."

I rubbed her head as Luna herself started walking towards us. "I know...I don't think I could do it without you." I scratched the back of her neck, lovingly caressing her mane with my palm, "We'll make it through."

Luna walked up to me, plucking me from the ground with her magic and pressing her horn against my head. "Viduk mara kas--if you understood the language." she stated, taking a step back, "Can you understand me?"

I looked up at her, speaking in clear Thestrali, "Luna...stop. The amount of times I have been drugged, experimented on, forced into horrid situations, and nearly killed...it's enough."

Luna's smile faded into a frown, "We apologize. But understand the importance of your rule." she enveloped me with her wing, "Thirty-six ponies, four griffons, a pair diamond dogs and a single human, have all tried, and all failed to tame this land."

"Wait- besides--"

"We sent a single human upon your arrival. He stopped a mile outside of the town and ran."

I glared at her, "I am not your pawn! Luna, I love you, you're my princess...but you need to stop."

Luna blushed slightly, "Perhaps we have been a bit...irresponsible." She stopped me and spotted something down the street. "We.... Benjamin, what is the easiest way to a human male's heart?"

I scrunched up my lips, "His penis...."

A camera man wandered over, taking a few pictures and taking a few statements. Luna seemed particularly interested in him, which proved a bit worrying. I hurried with his requests and turned back to my castle. The sun was rising and it was time to rest.

I walked up the steps to Arder, finding a red hatted unicorn, "You...name?"

The cream maned pony looked up at me, "Sandy. Did you need something sir?"

I looked up at my new home, "I need to get some sleep. I'll give you one hundred bits if you can keep these people in working order while I'm out. deal?"

The mare nodded with a determined smile, "Yes sir. But...we need to know where you want supplies stored."

I nodded, pointing to a warehouse built into the castle, a pair of rotted wooden doors leading inside from the courtyard. "There should be enough space to fit everything in there. But...do you know if they brought the food I requested?"

She licked her lips, moistening her chapped skin, "They said they'd bring the...meat, soon. But there are a bunch of cans waiting in one of the cars."

I nodded, "Have them unload them in the courtyard.... By the time your works over, I'll be back up."

The mare cocked her head, "I-- Oh right...night person.... Are we...we gonna be safe here?"

I nodded, "Worst time would be the day. But with all of you here, I think you're safe." I finished reassuring the worker when Moon Light herself flew over, "Shit...I need to--"

"Pale, you call for me?"

I walked over to her, choosing to practice the new language bestowed upon me, "Pale...I have a name, and I'd appreciate you using it."

I could see a lump pass down her throat, "So you understand me now? Then you won't mind if I speak in my true tongue."

I nodded, "Be my guest. But understand, this isn't a social call, and if you mess with my wife again I will...I'll do something terrible to you."

Moon Light sat before me, "I understand. You are already proving to have more tenacity than the frightful governors they have sent before you."

I threw my hands out, "Why? Because I'm not doing this for me. I came her for my wife, for her, for the children I protect." I shook my head in disgust, "I'm going to assume the ones before simply wanted money, or power.... I just want my Foxglove to be happy, and if this is what it takes, then so be it."

Light just stared into my eyes, her silvery pupils glistening, "...I am sorry. For my actions. I--"

"Don't...it's fine." I knelt down to her, "I mean...don't do it again...or I might actually go fucking crazy, but I'm fine...mostly." I put my hand on her cheek, "Now, will you join my guard?"

Light grew slightly pink in the cheeks, "On one condition...a night of intimacy when I ask of it." She stood tall before me, "I understand you have your wife, but I do not, and no suitor has come for years. I ask for a single night, and a place for my father to stay."

I let out a tired huff, "...I was a baby sitter...." I stood and turned to the town, "Fine. This stays between us. And you're free to bring any and all of your family here, so long as they serve in some capacity."

She wore a strangely conflicted expression, "What service can a--"

"The elderly can teach, the weak can learn and plan, the young can labor, and the skilled can fight." I turned to my castle, "I need everyone that I can get. And...no offense, but you're a crazy bitch. But you haven't killed me yet...and you molested me in my sleep...so I'm going to guess you're not going to kill me. Or...you are, and you're just a complete psycho." I stopped at the door to Arder and turned to her, "At this point I really can't tell."

Light walked over to me, "My Count, you have my word you will not be killed under House Light." she took a deep bow, "And so...we have the promised night?"

"Look...not--"

"We will, how you say, hold on to it." She slapped me with her tail as she spun around, "Pale, you are both a fool and a genius, and I'm not sure what I admire more. A brave fool, or a cowardly genius."

I shook my head, "I'm neither.... I'm an idiot who got lucky."

Nobles and Foals

I stared at a list of thestral noble houses as I walked down to the train. "...Man...I keep having to remind myself that I was a fucking babysitter about a week ago."

Foxglove bumped my side, "You basically still are. Only now it's not just foals, its a town of people that may try to kill you."

I started laughing weakly as the train chugged into the station, "So what you're saying is, nothing's changed." The train slowed to a halt, four cars stopping along the undersized station. I knelled down, giving Foxglove a quick kiss, "Now go...and get those things off your teeth."

Foxglove let out a pleased coo and turned to the train, flashing her braces at me, "I plan to. In case you couldn't tell...they really, really, really suck."

I saw her off, walking back to the other cars and spotting several ramps lowering. Little by little the ramps were filled with yet more workers, and a few familiar faces carrying my foals. "Alright everybody! Castle nursery's been refurbished, just keep hold of who you got and-- Holy shit." I stopped dead as I spotted my sister walking down from a ramp, her right eye bright but left still the usual dull of a normal human's. "Jenifer! God damn it, what did I say!?" I charged over to her, nearly bowling her over, "Why!?"

She looked me up and down, "Well hello to you too...."

I grabbed her by the sleeves, "Why- your eyes, you didn't!"

Jen pulled free, her black ponytail wagging in the breeze, "I asked first. I mean, I got an offer to go to school here, and I couldn't pass that up! Board and everything, it's like a prep school!" She smiled wide, a single fang jutting from her top jaw, "And I got to hang out with this little guy." She bounced Wayne in her arms, "Cutest little thing with four legs!"

I clasped my hands to my face and let out an animalistic growl, "Why!?"

Jen pushed Wayne into my arms, "Because I can do what I want! Oh, and I made out with a mare!"

I felt my face burning with pure rage, "You're seventeen!"

"And?" she cocked her hips and pouted, "See, I knew that would make you mad."

I took a deep breath, "So wait...you didn't?"

She shook her head, "Oh no, I did. She was so nice...flirty...I met her when I went to pick up little Wayne--"

"Holy fuck! Little cream and blue bisexual!?"

Jen laughed nervously, "You know her?"

I held Wayne in my left arm, grabbing my head with my right, "Aaaaaaaugh, god! Why!? She's twenty freaking two...."

"And I got to--"

I raised my hand high, "So help me god Jen, if you say one more thing I will put you right back on that fucking train!"

She glared at me, "You gonna hit me?! I sucked on her tongue, letting her--" I cut her off, slamming my palm against her ass to an insanely powerful degree. She ran past me, screaming like a maniac, "Fucking, ow!" She clutched her ass and ran in a dainty circle around me, "Jesus Ben, that-- Fuck!"

"Be glad dad didn't fucking hear you say that!" I calmed down, letting her run around like a chicken, "Wayne...how ya doing?"

He smiled at me, sinking his teeth into my arm, "Happy...."

I rubbed his ears and turned to the slowly growing fleet of foals, "Alright everyone, follow the main road! There should be a dork with a blue mane at the top of the hill waiting for you." I handed off Wayne to a careful mare and turned to the train.

The grade school foals looked extremely nervous. I spotted Castor in the small herd and walked over, "Castor...you feeling alright?"

She spotted, me letting out a pleased scream and latching onto my arm. "Daddy!"

The other foals I had helped raised ran over, grabbing me by whatever bare flesh they could find. I ended up being completely covered by young thestrals, all holding on for dear life as I stood up. I held my arms out, letting three foals dangle from either arm. Another few were clutching my chest, and even more were wrapped around my legs.

One of the bats I worked with back in Canterlot walked up to me, "Ben...you look like a chandelier."

I let out a defeated sigh, "Look...just get them to the castle. I need to take care of some things." I slowly pried each foal off, giving them a hug and sending them to ride in a cart. "Stay safe everyone!" I was repeatedly snuggled as I set foal after foal into the cart, eventually filling it and sending it off. Another cart, another series of needy hugs, and eventually a fitful goodbye as my children were whisked up the hill.

I was left standing next to the train, watching Jen flip me off as she joined the train of nannies. I nearly joined her in her angry display, stopping myself before I could flip off my foals. "Bitch...you just...." I grumbled angrily as I turned around. I bumped muzzle first into a group of assorted thestrals. The first a violet maned stallion with an eye-patch. The dark covering a dull grey with a royal purple crest etched where his pupil would sit.

"Count, we, House Av Crag, come with an official introduction and a marriage request." The stallion bowed and presented a rolled piece of parchment, "Your bride, should you choose our house."

A lilac maned bat mare trotted forward and bowed, "We will submit our body should you wish."

I covered my mouth with my cuff, "Um...wow." I had a horribly shameful erection as the mare looked up at me, eyes needy, pleading for my cock. "No...I'm...married." I said, a strange unintentional sound of regret lingering in my voice. "Yeah...mar-- married." I was starting to have trouble speaking both Thestrali and English.

The one eye'd stallion nodded deeply, "Please, do not lie. Your records were released, you are a bachelor. And while we respect your choice, we request your continued consideration."

I rubbed my head, he wasn't wrong. My marriage to Foxglove was technically not official. It gave me a pause for thought about her sudden advances. I looked at the stallion, "What's your name?"

The stallion looked me in the eyes, his burning purple pupil glowing in the budding darkness, "I am Pyrrhic Av Crag Head of House Av Crag."

I stuck my hand out, "Impressive title."

He met my gesture slapping his hoof against my hand, "We thank you, I thank you--"

I let out a rough cough, "Hey...so how many of you are sending mares to me?" Half of the ponies stepped forward, all of them except the mares they were offering. "...So...I'll take them all.... But we have other business!" I pointed to Arder, "I request each noble house in Castle Arder. We're modernizing the records and we need to pass out IDs. You know--"

A blue maned mare with a a pair of large puncture scars across her brow, "We understand. But we will not be identified as the serfs do!"

I nodded, "Oh course, my assistant has been drawing up cards for each of your families." I unfurled the list of houses, "House Av Crag, House..."

The blue mare stomped her hoof, "House Av Iron" a metal chest piece clattering against her cream coat.

A dark green mane, white coated stallion with round glasses stepped forward, "House Bian"

I nodded, looking over my list, "Met House An Arder, House Light, check...check...check--" I was stopped as a mare clamped onto my groin, taking my whole package into her mouth and glaring up at me. Her dull grey coat and jet black mane jostling as I felt her tongue lap against my compressed tender bits.

I froze, unable to comprehend the boldness of this mare. I let out a rough cough, "House Dusk...?"

The mare just hummed, pulling back and leaving me completely stuffed into my jeans, "...I will feed on your seed...."

"Not very...subtle." I turned away from the equally stunned group of nobles, "I have never needed to jerk off so bad in my life...." I could feel Foxglove's soft supple breasts in my hands, squeezing the ghost tits greedily. "Fuck.... Why boner? Why must you do this?" I rubbed my face and let out an angry sigh, "Foxglove...I'm going to fucking stuff you like a doughnut."

The noble from House Dusk peeked her head between my legs, "We will gladly relieve you." the mare's deep grey eyes covered by my package. She nuzzled my cock, letting my meat rest on her nose, "You smell of sex and battle...let us partake...."

I felt my body going wild. I let the mare do what she wanted, simply playing dumb and accepting the affectionate molestation. "...Alright...." I didn't stop her as she sniffed my groin, "Okay...that's...enough." My brain was going to an extremely stupid place as the mare pressed her tongue against my groin with her lips. I felt myself reaching my peak, "That's enough!" I shoved the mare away and kept at a safe distance. "Enough...castle now!"

The representatives turned away, leaving me to try and control myself. The mare of Dusk lingered, exposing herself to me and slowly backing up. "I said fuck off!" I screamed, taking my shoe off and throwing it at her. She took the hint, trotting off and leaving me standing at full mast next to the train.

I rubbed my cheeks, pinching my nose and walking stiff legged towards the train. I checked in with Bane, making sure he wouldn't take off. I hurried through the train, making my way past the unloading workers and finding Foxglove sitting in the freshly cleaned passenger car. She spotted me, sinking into her seat, "Ben...Ben...what's...Ben--" I stopped her pushing her against the seat and ripping off her bra, "Dear Luna Ben! I--" I cut her off once again, pushing her flat against a row of seats and jamming my tongue into her mouth.

She kicked a single time before going limp. Within two seconds she was sucking on my tongue, eyes closed and body going completely limp. I took advantage, yanking my jeans down and lining myself up with her.

I was cut short, a swish of her tongue along my own sending a buzzing feeling through my body. My knees buckled as I shot my load against her plot. The orgasm was rather lack luster, but the amazing feeling of my balls emptying was absolutely amazing. I pulled my tongue buck, Foxglove suckling as long as she could before laying limp and stained on the seat, "Wait...that's it?!"

I tucked myself away and slurped my tongue back, "I uh.... I...boner...." Foxglove just started yelling, angrily pointing to her splattered asshole and screaming. I walked out of the train, nearly falling to my knees as I hit the floor. I took a deep, shaky breath as I looked to the castle.

I fell onto my ass, watching lanterns flicker as I basked in my afterglow. "...Hows it feel Foxglove!? Getting used...." I grumbled bitterly, cupping myself, "Back...in the saddle." I flattened out and stared into the night's sky. "Holy shit that felt good...." I sat upright and looked at the small crowd of Canterlot bat ponies staring at me, "...Subjects...." I stood up and pointed to the castle, "You...do the thing...you...do the other thing." I found a crate and pulled it over. "Your Count...needs a breather."

I rubbed my knee, watching the ponies work, "Yeah...woo, good work everypony!" I moved my hand to the inside of my thigh, "Well...that was my day...." I started laughing stupidly, feeling amazing after the mass confusion and worry of the past week. "Domestic relations...amazing."

I pulled my list of noble houses out and looked it over. House An Arder, red headed love. House Av Crag: purple eye patch, of awesomeness. House Av Iron, pretty mane and metal clothes. House Bian, nerd. House Light, psycho fighty bitch. And House Dusk, massive perverts. I finished my scribbling, taking some time to draw a cartoon bat sticking her tongue out. "House Iron stronk!" I wrote the word, stronk, coming from the mare's mouth and tucked my drawings away.

"...Man...my life is a series of fucked up situations." I scratched my spent rod, tucking it to the side, "...Gotta laugh when you can." I patted my back pocket, the list of nobles now defiled with my crappy stick figure horse. I stood and started off to the castle, a night of boring paperwork and foal bites awaited me atop the hill. But at least I had my drawings.

House Av Iron

I stood around as ponies lined up for a quick picture and a new ID card. Of course most didn't come willingly, so a little encouragement was required. It was amazing how desperate they were for good food. A little feast at the castle and everything was going great. Three line of hundreds slowly ground down the main street. A photo, some quick paperwork, and a burger. Once all that was done they just lingered around or walked back to their homes.

I just stood in the courtyard, watching the line shrink as a line of blue maned ponies chugged along through a special line. The mare from House Av Iron was standing by my side, a burger in her right hoof and a confused look on her face. She finished up and looked up at me, "Tell me...what are you actually?"

I shrugged and pointed to a broken bit of wall laying on the ground. I took a seat, letting her follow me around. "Alien, human, there's no Thestral word for what I am."

The mare nodded, "Understandable, mostly. Now, answer me this. Why do you side with the weakest, most disturbingly treacherous house?" she cocked an eyebrow, "Surely a warrior would make a better countess...not a spy."

I rubbed my chin, "I- what?"

She bopped herself in the face with her hoof, "You...don't know much about us, do you?"

I patted my knees, "I know what you tell me. But...I've known them the longest."

The mare shook her head despondently, "So...you turn down our requests without prior knowledge!? You...you're a terrible count."

"Yeah...I know. I never even asked for this." I rubbed my neck and looked to the line, "Well...if you're so knowledgeable, why don't you enlighten me?"

The mare smiled, nodding quickly, "Well, if you wish to hear it from me...Feros Av Iron!" she stomped her hoof proudly, "Then I shall inform you. Iron, house of warriors. Crag, house of hunters. Light, house of traders. Dusk, house of...whores...they don't like that title, they prefer escorts and courtesans. Bian, house of scholars...and cowards. And An Arder, chemists and spies. Now...I only suggest you get to know each house before you decide who to tie yourself to." She smiled wide and glanced my shin with her hoof, "I, myself, am in waiting...."

I popped my eyes open and stared at her, "Are you coming on to me?"

Feros scoffed, "Hardly...a mere suggestion. And you've...been approached by the whore mare. They...possess a certain...carnal intrigue, don't they."

I chuckled lightly, "Talented with their mouths...."

Feros laughed in kind, "Truly...but they are not--"

"Don't.... I've been with my...wife, for about six months. I'm not about to--"

Feros tapped my knee, "You live a life where your marriage has nothing to do with romance...this is about power. And with most of your sex, offering the body of a mare seems to work the best." She stretched out and struck a strong pose, "And...I am a mare, you are a...male. Surly--"

I shook my head, "Look...I'm willing to learn, to decide where funds should go. I get the whole nobility thing. It's kinda like an oligarchy, but I'm in charge here." I stood up and pointed down the hill, "Maybe you won't be a countess, but you said your family is one of fighters, warriors, let's see if that's true or not."

The mare's face was in a complex state. Disappointment mixed with anger, but not anger, challenge. "Very well...perhaps I can convince you along the way." she flicked me with her tail and turned to the road, "Come along, stay close, and understand...we have not exactly had the easiest time maintaining our home."

I looked to the counter where the IDs were being made. "Hey, someone throw me a clipboard and some paper!" before I could get ready a clipboard flew from the crowd, nearly smacking me across the temple. "Jesus- fuck!" I took a second to make sure I wasn't hurt before picking up the supplies. "Um...let's go figure out what needs to be fixed."

Feros just smiled, "I can't force you to do--"

"Don't start...also...I know you understand this.... Can we...I mean--"

"Thestrali is much easier for me...." she stated, hurrying down the road and past the lines of ponies.

I grumbled and caught up with her, matching her stride as she turned down a narrow street, "Fine. Anyways, I'm not fixing this for pleasure. You said you were warriors...and I need guards. You see where--"

"Oh course. But...we wont serve a weakling, nor will we serve an inept. Prove some sort of skill and I'll be sure to...exalt your rule."

I just nodded. I had to focus on making sure I didn't get wedged in the horribly narrow street, wedged between dark stone brick walls of unknown connection to the path. First thing I wrote down, widen the street. It was still going to be narrow no matter what, but we needed to at least fit a cart through.

Aside from the narrow street I couldn't complain. The constant clatter of Feros' chest piece was rather atmospheric, adding to the very medieval feel I was getting from my walk towards a strange metal gate. She held the gate for me and gestured for me to head inside. I complied, finding myself dumped into a courtyard maybe half a football field's length. A manor that stood a ruined four stories, rubble crumbling off the old grey stone and timber frame, took up a huge chunk of land. It was a miniature castle, compressed into the size of a baseball field.

"Well...fuck me." I started writing down copious notes. Tonnes of stone, concrete, plaster, glass, everything I would need to make this place shine. It slowly became more about preserving such an interesting building, and less about the mare standing under my legs. "This is...yeah...I'm not letting this fall apart. Is it safe to go inside!?"

Feros nodded, "Just watch your step. There might be a foal or two running around."

I stopped dead at the front step to the building, running my hand over a strange symbol with a sword and shield, "Uh...shouldn't they be getting IDs?"

Feros shrugged, "I declared them in the census. They're a bit young to be entrusted with anything."

I glared at her, "How young?"

She looked deeper into the building and let out a short shriek. "Nic, Hark, down here now!"

At her call a pair of three year old foals toddled down a set of stone steps, "Holy shit!" I screamed, running over and scooping them up, "You- why would you let them just tumble down steps like that!?"

The foals started panicking, going mad and crying as I held them. "...They think you're a monster." Feros stated, "Are you just going to let them scream or--"

I held my arms out like a cradle, turning the two foals to face me, "Stop...now!" I made sure my voice was just loud enough to be assertive but not aggressive. The two foals shut up in seconds, "Can they speak?"

Feros bobbed her head left and right, "To some degree.... They are my niece and nephew, and I'm glad to see you can handle them."

I split the foals, one in each hand and pressed them against my shoulders, "Shhh, I have you...I have you." I gently rubbed the backs of their heads, hearing their sniffles and cries slowly peter out. "This was my job. Caring for the young." I made sure they were completely calm and set them down. They both lingered around me, pacing between my legs and investigating my boots, "I know not to coddle them, but a good smack on the head can...soft skulls, you gotta be careful."

Feros rolled her eyes and walked over, standing on my toes, "Really!? I speak...two languages, fought a dragon, and you don't think I--"

I crouched down and grabbed her by the cheeks, "That doesn't mean you'll make a good parent."

She grew bright red, snapping forward and biting my nose, "How is that!? You--" I cut her off with a quick kick to the chest, rattling her armor, "Really!?"

The foals dispersed, leaving room for me and Feros to have our little sudden scrap, "Bite my nose, fucking crazy!" I stood tall against her, "You really wanna do this!?"

Feros just flared her wings out, "Winner takes the title...sound fair?!"

I didn't answer with words, instead rushing her and picking her up by her forehooves. I held her upright and shoved her into a wall. "Fair- enough." I stated, pinning her back hooves with my knee, "So...does--" she bit down on my neck, sinking her fangs in deep. "Ow...you bitch." I craned my head against her trying to keep her from moving.

It became a war of attrition, her bites growing more and more bitter and resentful as I held her pinned against a wall. But I could outlast her. While not exactly foal bites, I had been dealing with a grown mare with braces for about a month, this wasn't shit.

She slowly gave up, releasing my neck and glaring at me. "...An ambush is hardly fair."

I set her down, finding the foals giggling like mad, "War isn't about fair. And maybe we're not at war, but I figured you'd appreciate a little bit of fight."

She shook her mane out and stepped towards me, "Fair.... But now perhaps I can ask you to reconsider." She looked to the two foals, "Our house is maybe...twenty strong now? And perhaps we would not be a fertile couple...but...power tends to aid in growth."

I shook my head mournfully, "I really cant. You seem nice, if a bit...aggressive, but I can't." I looked to my clipboard, "I already promised the guard captain position to someone...but...I'll see about shuffling some positions around." I scribbled onto my list of supplies. "So you've got twenty...that's it?"

Feros nodded, "We've had...rather difficult times, finding worthy mates."

I rolled my eyes, "Anyways...get every healthy pony you can find and tell them to move into the barracks. I'll keep the red heads as my house guard."

She cocked her head, "So what...we're thief takers?"

I scratched my head, "Not quite the biggest problem. I was thinking more town guards. And...let me tell you, the laws I'm gonna pass...some ponies might not like it."

She glared at me, "Take our battles...and all of this town shall take your head."

"That's fine! But I won't have people getting robbed and assaulted out on the street. You- there's something.... Duels."

She cocked her head, "What about them?"

I looked around the crumbling entry of the true House of Iron. "Uh, maybe not here. But if ponies are gonna fight, they're gonna fight under my watch. And who better to keep them in line than you, the mare who just tried to pick a fight with a count."

She cocked her head and wore a skeptical frown, "Hmmm, perhaps. Do you plan to give us land for this?"

"Where else would you have it?" I held my hand out, "Can I see your card?"

Before long a fresh ID card was placed in my hand, "There we- whoa, you're nineteen!? What the fuck!?" I rubbed my head and gave her ID back. "You know what...I'm sending you to Canterlot."

She backed up, "What!?"

I stomped my foot, cracking the stonework, "If I'm gonna have a marshal that young, she's going to be educated!" I held the clipboard under my arm, "Now pick someone to run the place while you're gone."

She glared at me, "You plan to send me away!? Take my home--"

"No!" I boomed getting in her face, "I'm sending you to learn. Not from fucking ponies. Ponies don't know war, their tactics amount to a mass charge and that's it!" I grabbed her by the legholes in her armor and lifted her up, "No...you're learning true war, or at least something." I looked her eye to eye, staring into the bright turquoise as it glimmered in the candlelight, "Feros Av Iron, effective at the end of the week, you are hereby banished until such a time that you can prove your capabilities as not only a fighter...but as a tactician!"

She looked heartbroken, stunned, and furious, "You come into my home and tell me--"

"Shut up! You live under my rule now, and I will not have talent go to waste! You report to me, you are my subject, I know how feudal life works, now make arrangements." I set her down and took a few steps away, standing in as imposing a stance as possible, "Am I understood!?"

For the first time since my arrival, the second time in my life, I found a bat pony near tears from my shouting. "Why...I don't want to leave...." Feros croaked, "Please...."

I stared down at her, "Your housing and food will be paid for, as will a weekly stipend be given. You will have two months to learn as much as possible, gather as many books as possible, and find a tutor. Your home will be repaired in your absences, and your family will be put to work." I dug into my pocket and found the scroll with the info on the houses, "We are strong, we are Iron." I folded up the paper, "But iron's fucking useless without a brain behind it."

Feros had gone from a strong brash mare to a cowering filly as I spoke. "I'm not stupid...."

I shook my head and turned to the door, "I know. I wouldn't be throwing money at you if I didn't think you were smart." I fixed my jacket. "I don't care if the others don't like it. This town is a fucking mess. There's sewage in the streets, brawls in every alley, what I'm guessing is a complete lack of formal government and education, and I've got to start somewhere."

Feros trotted over, wrapping her hooves around my leg, "Please...don't make me go...."

I felt a lump travel down my throat, "You'll be back. And you'll be back stronger, smarter, and more powerful than before." I spun on my heel and crouched down to her, "I'm not going to let a nineteen year old throw herself into the affairs of adults without some fucking schooling."

She glared at me, jamming her head against the crook of my shoulder, "...The old count just treated us like animals...why do you think you are any different?"

I wrapped her head in my arms, "Look...you're going. It's final. Why are you so--"

"I'm scared damn you!" she shoved her head hard against my shoulder, "I'm scared to leave! I don't know what's out there, I know ponies hate us, I--"

I jumped upright, "Feros Av Iron, promised Marshal of Transylmania. Take your post, face it without fear, and I shall deal with the consequences!" I rubbed my chin and relaxed my posture. "You've got the easy part...learning...I'm the one who has to explain why I did this to everyone in town." I took a deep breath and started out the door, "If I can face a town of people who want to kill me, you can face a new town and a few books." I stepped outside and turned back to her, "We'll have a feast before you go. Oh...and you're probably not going to be alone.... I'm going to assume the others aren't formally educated either...so...yeah. You'll have company."

Feros fell to her haunches on the front step, "Count...if you have tricked me, you will die.... I chose to...believe, I want to believe."

I took a nervous breath as I stepped forward towards the path back home, "Well then I've got a reputation to live up to. Goodbye, and see you back up the hill."

House Dusk

I had met Foxglove at the train station, "No."

We continued along towards the castle, workers still going about their work before packing up for the night, "Look...they seem like the--"

"Yes...the officiate marriages...but no, we're not going to go see them." Foxglove kicked her leg back, bopping my knee with her hoof, "I need to take care of--"

I pulled her back and picked her up, "Look...I'm meeting all the houses, and I'm tired of getting pestered.... I don't care if it's low key, we can have a proper wedding later...but I really just need to make this official."

Foxglove pawed at my chin, "You're the count...just write the contract...."

I grumbled, "Look...we're going. I figured you'd want to come, even if it was just to make sure I didn't...fool around."

She glared at me, "It's not you I'm worried about...I just...I don't want a tongue in my ass right now."

I felt my face contort into a number of confused looks, "I- ...What?"

Foxglove mumbled, "Look...you're walking us...there. So...I wish I had to fart...."

I stiffed an amazing laugh, "W-what!?"

Foxglove stretched her legs, her breasts jiggling behind her bra, "They have this weird thing for assholes...and dicks.... I mean, if we go, we have them officiate, you're gonna get your balls licked by a stallions, and a mare is gonna try and lick my insides."

I stopped dead, nearly tripping on a broken stone in the main road. "Uh...that's...that's a joke right?"

Foxglove shook her head, "No...I mean...they probably won't try to lick your ass...but they will just like, devour your balls." She cocked an eyebrow, "Yesterday...when you decided to spray me with your thing, it was because of one of them...wasn't it?"

I swallowed hard and spotted the mare I agreed to meet, "I uh...I instate the right to remain silent...and use that right." I walked up to the raven black mare and pointed my toe to the road, "Hi...Amber Dust?"

The mare bowed, smiling and showing a simple eyeshadow and lipstick, "We have been awaiting you. Please, if you would follow me." she turned around, wrapping her tail around my shin and slowly walking towards a wide open marketplace. Lantern posts dotted the broken stone square, the surrounding buildings all cottages converted to shops and living spaces. I could see another noble house, a huge square stone building, huge wooden doors rotting and decayed.

They were warehouses, the style and size of the doors were unmistakable. It was a simple building, a shed stye roof with windows lining the tallest wall. That would have to be my next stop. But for now I left the market behind, walking into yet another narrow, barely paved street. It was rather calm, hovels and cottages lining the street would usually prove rather worrying, but the sense of depression far outweighed the sense of oppression and danger.

The raven haired mare kept her tail connected to my leg as she brought me to an intriguing building. It was a large square U shape, three stories, raising up with each corner. A broken fountain and a dead flowerbed laid in the center of the courtyard. I was lead past it, past the weeds growing from the broken courtyard.

The front door the the house Dusk was once an ornate wooden door with iron glass framing. Now it sat shattered and more of a half broken gate than a door. The mare opened the door, holding the ramshackle wood open and pulling me inside with her tail. Foxglove seemed uneasy, curling up as I walked into a room brimming with ponies.

A mare with a dark grey coat and a two tone black mane walked up to me, "Sir. Wesk. A pleasure." She smiled warmly, "It is so kind of you to visit, but I must ask...this...mare, in your grasp, is she truly your choice?"

I glared at her, "Look...I came her to check things out, take a list of what needs to be fixes, and get fucking hitched! So can you do it, or not!?"

The mare started laughing huskily, "My Count...we live to bring pleasure, and if this is your...choice, then so be it." She stomped her hoof, parting the lines of ponies, "If you would part from your mate...we shall prepare."

I looked down at Foxglove. She looked modestly worried, "Ben...I don't like this...."

I gave her a quick peck on the nose and set her down, "If they do try something...I'll have each and every one of them burned alive." My voice was dry, completely serious, "You hear that? Do not, fuck, with my wife."

The two toned mare pulled me aside, a trio of mares doing the same to Foxglove. I was lead into a brightly lit room, candles everywhere and black maned ponies sitting everywhere. Before long I found myself in the center of the room, a piece of bread forced into my hands by the two toned, "My Count...partake?"

I looked at the strangely normal slice of bread, "What...what is it?"

The mare just smiled, "It will help with the ceremony."

I puttered an unconvinced grumble from my lips, "So...if this poisons me...."

The two toned mare jumped back, "My count! How could you insinuate we would ever attempt to bring you harm. The insult...it stains us. I--"

"Alright...calm down." I stuffed the surprisingly sweet bread into my mouth. "I--" I felt myself grow swimmy, my brain lighting up as my pants grew tight. "What the fuck dude...what was that?"

The two toned mare stopped my from falling to the floor, helping my to a seated position, "Aphrodisiac." she stated, rubbing my thigh and moving to my groin, "Something to lower apprehension and...help you keep an open mind."

I rubbed my head as a herd of mares started surrounding me. "God damn it...every...fucking time...I either get drugged...attacked...bit...or some other terrible thing...every...fucking...time...."

A mare nipped at my chin, "Be at ease...we will take care of you...."

"Fuckin' funk...drun...k...drun-k...." I fell backwards, gently resting against the floor and staring at the sky, "Bitches...Foxglove was...yes." I was laid against a mares lap as they worked to undress me, "Fuckin...raped again...fucking hate my life!"

The mares stopped dead, the two toned looking me in the eyes with a confused frown, "Rape? ...We're simply preparing you...."

I mumbled stupidly, "If by...prepared...you mean raped- rape...!"

The mares started giggling as my shirt came off. The two toned sat on my bare chest as the others worked to tear my boots off, "My Count, while we may perform acts...your sex is solely for your mate, but...we will provide pleasure to you both." She giggled slightly as I felt my pants tug off, "Mind you...we will not act without your permission, your body is safe and sacred to us."

I grumbled as I felt my cock freed from its cotton prison, only to land on a warm squishiness. "Liar...."

The two toned sat on my cock, keeping it snugly pressed against my stomach as I was dragged away. The mare's warm smile the only thing I could see without a thick hazy filter. My body burned with warmth, my arms on fire as I stopped. The mare left my vision as I was propped upright, finding Foxglove doped out of her mind and laying on her back, a pair of mares suckling at her teats peacefully.

I spotted a mare under her, staring at me as they stuffed their tongue into her ass. "...Holy shit- she was right!" I watched in awe and wonder as the pony dug their tongue into Foxglove's ass, causing her to twitch, spurring the mares at her teats forward. A fourth joined them, leaning down over her and diving tongue first into her mouth.

My rod felt like it was going to explode as I sat limply. My entire pelvis felt like it was trying to explode, my cock-head rock hard and throbbing as a trio of mares laid muzzles against my lap. They started giggling as a fourth wrapped a pair of hooves around my neck, nuzzling my head.

I lost focus as something soft pressed against my turgid cock. My vision blurred into swirls of soft pink and grey as the mares started talking, "Strange looking isn't it?"

A mare giggled, another warm wet muscle teasing my tip and making me twitch, "Smells strong...tastes strong...."

A third mare pressed her muzzle against my shaft, letting my cock sit along her muzzle. "Feels good...so good...a shame this...wench, has claimed him."

My vision slowly returned, revealing two mares smothering my cock in hooves and tongues, the third pulling Foxglove's lips open and showing my the soft glistening pink that waited within. "Look at the veins...I think he likes what he sees."

The mares treating my aching rod simply nipped at my flesh, teasing me with the tips of their tongues as I slowly slid forward and towards the dripping wet pink of Foxglove's tight pink pussy.

I lurched forward, towering over her and pushing the mares at my cock and the mare at Foxglove's pussy away. They quickly returned, helping guide me forward and against Foxglove's entrance. My usual fumbling and flailing obliterated by the guidance of the mares. My entire body surged with heat and pleasure as I drove my painfully pent up cock deep into Foxglove's body, my balls slapping against the muzzle of the pony servicing her ass.

I stared down at Foxglove's neck as a pony laid across my back, my body hunched over hers and my rod teased and serviced by a mare as I drove it in and out of Foxgloves pulsing sex. A constant lewd squelching filling the air as tongue worked, bodies squirmed, and my throbbing rod was slowly stoked. My release far off but the pleasure far outweighing the over tensioned pain in my cock.

My body throbbed in time with my heart, a heat surging from my heart all the way to my toes and fingertips. My cock was in heaven, the slick hot insides I was invading were squeezing me tight and massaging me. I wrapped my hands around her sides, the warm soft coat along her back was euphoric, the smell of sweat and musk driving me to madness. I was lost, damned to this carnal display until the end of time.

My mind was blank, my body working on its own to bring forth a massive joy to me. My tongue hung out as my thrusts grew creamier and smoother. I picked up speed, forcing myself through her insides and jamming my rigid staff into her. The mare wrapped around my neck bit into my neck, the pain blurring my senses until all I could feel was pain and pleasure, my pain creating such a juxtaposition that when my release came, I lost everything.

My vision went white, my mind went to a singular place of utter joy, my body burned with an amorphous warmth that rivaled any fire. I could have died for all I knew, but where ever I was, it was heaven.

My vision went black for a moment before popping back open. Mares were suckling at my slowly weakening member, a dull, soft pleasure sending my lower body to sleep. The pony at Foxglove's ass was half asleep, mindlessly wiggling their tongue inside her ass and digging deep into her. The mare she had been sharing a mouth with was smiling warmly, laying her Foxglove's head in her lap and gently stroking her forehead.

I watched with a bit of jealousy as a stallion dug into Foxglove's creampied pussy, drawing out my cum and sucking it up as he cleaned her out. A mare helping hold her open and letting my cum drip out pulled the stallion up and shared my seed.

My body was numb, aside from a constant fuzzy warmth. These ponies were by far the most skilled at their craft I have ever seen. They were the greatest family of lustful whores and sluts I'd ever met, and in my fucked up state, I wondered how much I would have to pay to do this every week.

But for now, I found a strange tie around my wrist, matching a similar bracelet around Foxglove's hoof. I was too exhausted to put things together, and laid back into a pile of waiting bodies. I found myself covered in warm bodies, both male and female, holding the warmth in my body and mopping up the sweat dripping from me.

I didn't know how much more there was to House Dusk, but it didn't matter. They had pretty much earned my help with a single night of mind shattering sex. My perversion taking charge in favor of reason or logic.

House Light

I lurched out of the House of Dusk, my legs like jelly and the mare in my arms extremely sticky. Mares and stallions waved us goodbye, one young male going so far as to hug my leg as I tried to leave. It wouldn't have been half as disturbing if I didn't recognize him from  Foxglove's asshole.

Eventually though I broke away, lurching into the dark night and towards the market. I could see Moon Light walking over already, a worried look on her face. She sniffed the air as she approached, stopping a foot away and cocking her head, "Benjamin...you stink like perfume and shame."

I rubbed my face, making sure not to drop my passed out wife. "Look...I know I said I was gonna visit all the houses...but...look, I just need to go--"

Moon Light pulled a note from her side, "I saw you walk with the whore mare...I have a list for the rebuild, prices already calculated by my father." she stuffed the note in my pocket and backed off, "Now...I...perhaps if you don't mind being vulnerable around me anymore...I may be able to help you."

I glared at her, "You have ten seconds before I teabag you and go home...and my balls are fucking sweaty right now...so you don't want that."

Moon Light took a step back, "Um...a bath in a hot spring?"

I continued to stare at her, "...Which way?"

She turned away, trotting towards the far end of the huge square market. My new subjects were starting to get back to their day, some nodding at me for the free food, and others shaking their head at my disheveled look. I stared down at the floor and followed Moonlight's tail. The stone road slowly turned to dirt, then to natural stone.

The walk was rather quick, taking us behind House Light and into a cave in the side of the rock that Arder sat on. I ducked down and hurried after Light as the air grew damp and warm. The inside of the cave was littered with lanterns, all surrounding a few pits of waist deep water.

I just stared at the pit of water, "Is this it?"

Moon nodded, "Warmed by- Uh...Sir--"

I slowly lowered myself, clothes and all, into the water. It was warm, just a bit below burning. I held Foxglove's head out of the water as I found the best way to get comfortable. She slowly woke up, looked around, and let out a deep sigh, "Ben...where--"

"Foxglove...shut, up." I commanded, letting her go and settling in. "I really...really...really can't deal with this right now."

Foxglove floated next to me, "Geez...way to--"

I glared at her, "Foxglove...don't, I'm about five seconds from losing my shit...so just don't."

Moon Light joined us, trying to see inconspicuous. "My Count...are you...you seem agitated--"

I felt my final string of tolerance, patience, and understanding break like a guitar string. "...Agitated? Agitated!? My life the past month has been completely fucking insane! Now I'm here, sitting in a bath, my balls covered in pony spit, my cock just about the same, my fucking wife had a stallion's tongue in her ass, I have to try and run a country, and all I was hired to do was care for foals!" I screamed, pressing my back against the far wall of the water pit. "You know...I don't even know how I fucking got here, between getting constantly drugged, forced to make decisions that I know will end badly, just to stop other horrid things from happening!"

Foxglove stared at me, her face wrought with anger, "You do realize I'm--"

"And you!" I turned to her and got in her face, "This is all your fucking fault!" I stared her down, eye to eye, nose to nose, "Foxglove...I feel like I have to say this first...I love you." I took a deep breath and settled in, "But, because of you, because of your crazy ass bullshit, I have been bit, drugged, transformed, attacked, raped, sent into places where no matter what I do I will get fucked up. I fucking hate you some times, because let me tell you this, you're fucking crazy."

Foxglove looked stunned, "Ben, what the fu--"

"When I met you...I saw a strong mare, that cared for foals, and had a decent sense of humor. Then...you got needier, and needier...and needier. And- you fucking raped me...but that's not the bad part. You're so fucking unstable, and don't fucking say you're not!" I grabbed her groin, pressing two fingers against her lips, "You think with this...not this-" I poked her in the forehead, "And I don't care if it's because of whatever you're on to make milk, I don't care."

"Ben I don't--"

Moon Light interrupted Foxglove, "Um...if I may--"

"Shut up!" I demanded, "I'll get to you later...." I turned back to Foxglove. "I love you...it's difficult, but that mare locked behind that fucking psycho is amazing. She's strong, she's caring, she obviously cares enough about the children and her race to modify her body and fuck up her mind. The mare inside you is outstanding, but all I see in you right now is that psycho that raped me, the psycho that goes through violent mood swings, the mare who sent me down this line of hell!"

Moon Light started to try and leave, "I don't need to be her--"

"Sit the fuck down!" I screamed, causing her to jump to attention and settle back into the water. "Back to you Fox.... I like the sex, it's the reason I put up with the crazy. It's why I visited a whore family second, without sex, I would have lost my fucking mind. Because since I got here a few months ago, I have been bit by foals, drugged and transformed into a fucking vampire, raped, forced into a semi abusive relationship barely held together by the shred of hope that some day you'll show me that mare inside not the crazy bitch I've come to know!"

Foxglove was nearly crying as I finished, "Ben...you know I love you...but I don't...I don't know how else to say it! I just--"

"Throwing sex at the problem isn't the right idea!" I snapped back, grabbing her by the shoulders.

She squirmed in my grasps, "But...I need sex.... Every time they make me drink the potion that makes me produce milk, it puts me into heat, and if I don't- you know...fuck, I get really fucking emotion, really fucking sad, and I get an unbelievable pain in my fucking pussy! I'm sorry but--"

I pulled her against my chest, "Foxglove...like I said, I love you. But if it doesn't change soon...I'm gonna cheat on you...probably with the Av Iron mare...because she's got a beautiful face, and a more consistent personality." I turned her around and laid her back against my chest, "So please...figure out what you are, if you're a kind caring mare, or a super freak. Because you're not gonna take anymore hormones, once your tits empty out...no more wet nursing, I want a wife...not a girlfriend."

Foxglove placed her hooves on my hands as I wrapped my arms around her chest, pinning her to my sternum, "Ben...why didn't you--"

I coughed roughly, "Because since I changed, my decision making has been piss poor. I'm jittery, excitable, I have poor impulse control, and I still have a constant craving for red meat. My change wasn't perfect. But I stuck it through...granted I don't think it will change much...but I've got to try, I've got a city to run, and it's time to sort shit out." I rubbed my face, wiping off my nose, "House Dusk...that was for...the ties...." I brought up my hand, looking at the weird bracelet, "And some fucking release. I mean...I wasn't expecting all that...and I feel gross now, but it was good."

Moon was fidgeting like mad. "My Count...perhaps you two--"

I shook my head, "No...I've said what I needed to say about her...let's talk about you." I smiled evily, "The psycho who tried to fight me when I got here, the mare that raped my unconscious body. Let me say first off, you're not getting away with it, I know I said bygones are bygones, but this is my revenge." I deep breath, a laugh causing me to sound crazy, "I don't care why you did it, I could understand the fight, but the rape...I don't know if it's customary to rape your visitors, but I came here to explore, I came here because it sounded exciting. Not once did I think I would be doing all this!"

Moon looked nervous, "My Count...you had just survived something most wouldn't...I wished to--"

"Shut, the fuck, up." I reached out, grabbing her and wedging her next to Foxglove and against my chest, "All, of you bats, are fucking crazy. All in different ways...but I can honestly say, if I have to put up with any more I might actually lose my shit, and decapitate someone like Vlad the fucking Impaler. So I will say this one last time, to both of you, figure your shit out...stop driving me mad, and let me have my god damn fun. Because after everything you two have done to me, I have no reason not to just hang out with the whores all, fucking, day."

Things grew deafeningly silent. The water sloshing about as the two mares gently squirmed and tried to avoid eye contact. I took a final breath and let them go, "Yeah...I've been holding that in for a while...."

Foxglove floated back to me, hugging my chest and remaining silent. She nuzzled my chest, letting me put a hand on her damp mane and gently caress her. Moonlight floated across from me, staring at me with a pitiful look plastered over her face, "Um...My Count...I...suppose an apo--"

"No...no apology. Apologies don't fix things, changing fixes things." I rubbed Foxglove's mane, she was either sobbing or chewing on my shirt, I couldn't tell but either way I think my message got across. "Now...if anything I said leave this place, I will shave you head to tail."

Moon's eyes shot open, "That's...pale, that is a joke...yes?"

I started laughing menacingly, "Oh no...you all created a mad Count, and I would love a pony mane wig." I smiled deviously, "But seriously. I need to start buckling down my life, taking control of my decisions...gotta be honest, those whores though...they have not seen the last of me. But I will completely shave you if you tell anyone about this. That wasn't a joke."

Once again things grew horridly quiet. The mares were too stomped back to talk, leaving me alone with my thoughts, "You know...this is nice." I rubbed Foxglove's back, letting my fingers press against the bases of her wings and making her flare out. "You know...I think I'll bring Wayne with me when I visit the others...little guy's the only sane one amongst us."

Over the sloshes and breathing Foxglove piped up, "Ben...I'm sorry."

I pulled her head against my shoulder, "I know...you should be. But it's okay...not too late to change, not too late to figure life out. God knows I haven't figured everything out yet either." I turned to Moon Light, "Now get that list you made to the castle...I think I'm gonna stay in here a while."

Moon Light nodded, lifting herself from the water, "Yes, Pale, and...I...you will make an interesting leader.... Goodbye."

House Av Crag

I sat alone in a carpeted room, dim candles flicking around me as my foals settled in around me. For the first time in weeks, I could just sit and be with them. Foxglove and I weren't talking just yet. I asked for a day or two to calm down, and try to give her some time to sort herself out.

For now I sat cross legged, Castor, Scotch and Wayne bundled together in my lap while the others sat in a few heaps around me. I could reach my hand out and grab any number of tuckered out children, all of them simply happy to be around me, all of them settling in and peacefully oblivious to the dangers that once inhabited this place.

I ran my hand over Wayne's head, transitioning from his head to Castors, then finally to Scotch's, interweaving their manes into a colorful mess. It was peaceful, calming, a good time to think and a good chance to spend some time with my massive extended family.

They looked so calm, so serene. All of it was cut apart as the door behind me swung open. A raspy voice in Thestrali rang out, "Count West...Pyrrhic Av Crag has arrived to speak with you." I looked behind me, finding the one eyed stallion walking over, a strange wooden box tied to his side.

I nodded and pointed for him to sit with me, "Pyrrhic...how are you?"

He walked over and sat next to a pile of foals, "Surviving...."

I let out a warm chuckle and gently removed the foals from my lap, sitting Wayne down between Castor and Scotch, the two hugging my young son and cuddling together against the carpet. "I get that. Long day?"

He rubbed his head as a half awake foal wandered towards him. "That could be said.... The child of Light asked me to speak with you."

I froze mid pet of Castor's blonde mane, "What?"

Pyrrhic licked his lips, "She told me of your argument...she thought--"

I let out a tired grunt as I sat upright, "Well...I fucking told her not to so--"

Pyrrhic shook his head, "My Count...she made me swear on my life to keep what happens next between you and I. But she asked me, personally, to talk with you." He took a deep breath and stood up, turning away, "I will save my gift for later.... But now, your mate, this Foxglove, do you love her?"

His dull rasp was oddly formal, "Yes."

"How much?"

I dragged my fingers against the side of my nose, "I love her enough not to leave her...for now." I rubbed my upper lip before speaking again, "I want to love her...but she makes it hard...really hard."

Pyrrhic spun around, dancing around the foal between his legs like magic. "My Count...do not leave her. Your mate...we--" He locked up, the foal grabbing onto his foreleg and wrapping around him, "I...I have a story for you...a story Light wanted me to tell...a story...she believes will help you."

He looked hurt, clenching his teeth and shutting his eye before going stoic once again, "Long ago...perhaps sixteen years...I met a mare.... I will save you time, I made her my wife, we had a son and she died in birthing." He took a deep pouting breath, "This son...my son...I raised him alone for sixteen years...I was his age when we was born...I had no idea what to do...but I had to try. So I raise this foal for years, little by little he grows into a hard fighter, a strong pony, and a good friend to all."

I cut in, seeing him grow more and more pained as he went on, "He sounds wonderful...but what does this--"

"His sixteenth year...three years ago, he leaves. He goes to live with the house Dusk. He leave us, the hunters, the explorers, for whores!" Pyrrhic stood as stable as he could, his hooves trembling slightly, "I find out...he is homosexual.... I remember three days, three days I screamed at The Mother. Why!? Why is my son different, I will never have a grand child! Why Mother, why must you do this!?" he took a shaken breath and lowered his head, "I disowned him. A public declaration. I rained papers of this for two days, that my son was no longer of my blood."

I bit my upper lip and scooted closer to him, "That's...why are you telling me--"

"The third day...I find out he killed himself." Pyrrhic's voice was cool, cold even, "He- he and his stallion...they slashed their throats. And I realize, this is my fault.... I realize it was my fault. He- he told his whore friends of what I did, of what the town would do when they found out." He lowered his head, letting his mane spill over his good eye, "I...I spend two days crying, and a third weeping blood."

He turned his face up at me, his eye glassy but tears not straying from his eye, "This...was no accident," he pointed to his eye patch, "This...this is for memory, to remember the pain always." He turned away, carefully wiggling his hoof free of the foal, "We all have ones we love...and they will always hurt us. Every being in existence will want revenge, but we, those of power, our strength is great, and our actions will have equal consequences." I could hear him struggling to find his voice, "They will hurt us, Count Wesk, they will hurt us badly. Either through their actions, their choices, their inability or their failures. Your wife...I knew her father, he was a fool as I, unfit to raise a child."

He took a deep, calmer breath, "If you blame that mare for her inability to understand, her need for attention, for release, then you are damning her for things outside of her control. Things can change, Count Wesk, but you must be there for them, lest they- lest they be gone when you realize how much you care...." He turned back to me, mane covering his face, "Ben...let them hurt you, because when you are free of your anger...you will still have them. But when you hurt them back...when you-- It is better to have a little pain, then to lose them...and be consumed by the loss." He turned away, "Do not lose her...hold her by your side...for the pain of failure, is no where near as severe as the pain of their absence." He turned away, dumping the strange box on the floor and walking out, "You should...fix your ceiling...it's leaking."

I looked at where he was standing, beside the box, beside the small orange foal sat a small puddle of water. I felt my heart sink as I looked towards the door outside. "...I...I mean...fuck." I felt my body tense up, my shoulders aching suddenly as his words set in. I tried to think back, imagine my life without Foxglove. It would have been normal, but I wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be on this adventure, I wouldn't have children to care for, a life to die for, a son, a castle, a peoples. For each and every incident, each nudge towards madness, it was also a nudge towards something amazing.

I picked up the box, setting the foal into a pile and undoing the latches. Inside sat three things. A crossbow with beautiful engraved metalwork, a bushel of bolts, and a crude black and white picture.

The picture was simple stick figures, water stained purple manes drawn on the dull grey bodies. A child drawn smile adorn the face of the smaller body, the larger wearing an angry face. The paper was thick, stained with age old droplets and a thin smear of red near the bottom right corner. A final piece sent me upright and after Pyrrhic, a small scribble with the name Arrow Av Crag, crossed out by jet black ink.

I ran through the halls, making sure someone would take care of the foals in my sudden absence. I chased after him, springing down the halls towards the main exit. I flung myself outside, jumping into the courtyard and screaming his name, "Pyrrhic!? Pyrrhic, where are you!?" I ran to the end of the yard, stopping at the archway that lead down to the street, "Pyrrhic...Pyrrhic!?" no answer.

I was left standing in the dull moonlight, the parchment drawing in my hands crumpling as my fingers squeezed into a painful fist. I was forced to pry my fingers apart, saving the paper and holding it gently in my shaking hands. I felt the sudden urge to find my sister, my mother, my father, my wife, everyone I cared about. I wanted to be with them, each and every one, I needed to see them, to know they were safe, to know I could see them again.

I needed to know I could see them, I had to be sure they were safe. And so I ran, I ran straight to where Foxglove was resting. I slammed against the rotted wooden door, breaking it apart and falling against the broken stone foundation. She looked terrified, staring at me with a mix of fear and confusion, "Ben what the fuck!?"

I ignored her, charging over and pulling her against my chest. I didn't say anything, I merely held her. I needed to know she was real, I needed to know that that mare locked in her head was still there, that I could still reach her, and that she would try to bring her out. "Foxglove...please...."

She let me hold her, "Ben...I don't- what's wrong?!"

I felt my heart rise from my guts, "Fox...I need you...right now I need you to talk to me...."

She squirmed around, "I thought- but you didn't want to--"

I tightened my grip, refusing to let anything take her away from me, "Foxglove...please, I need you to...I need to just--"

Foxglove pushed off just enough to wrap her hooves around my head, "Ben...I'm here...I'm- I...thinking.... I'm--"

I took a deeply relived breath, "Thank- thank you...." I slowly let her go, "I uh- I needed- I needed to hear that." I rubbed my chest, feeling my heart return to normal, "Foxglove...take all the time you need, but please...find who you are, as quick as possible."

She looked hurt, "Ben...I'm trying...I- I see you...and I feel weird. I have to fight it Ben...I'm really trying now...but it's hard." She lurched forward, "I don't know who you think I am...and I'm scared...when you...when you find out what I'm like without the hormones...without the schemes or the sex.... Will you still love me?" She bit back a small tear, "Ben...I don't know if you'll even like the real--"

I grabbed her, cradling her head against my shoulder and digging my fingers against her scalp, "Foxglove...I stuck with you through the worst...I stuck with you through the abuse, the doubt, the mood swings and the rage, the sex, the fights...if I stuck it through then...I can stand by you if you at least try." I held her tighter than ever before, "Try and fail...try and succeeded, so long as you try...I will be here, waiting for you." I took a deep breath as Foxglove started to do one of the thing I fell in love with, she chewed on my arm, weakly, needily, a calming mechanism. "I know the mare I feel in love with is inside there...just please...bring her out."

Foxglove pushed back, freeing her mouth from my wrist, "Ben...I'm trying."

"I know...I just...." I let her go, taking a step back, "Someone...a story...and I needed--"

Foxglove leaped forward, wrapping her forelegs around my knees, "Ben...you know I'm not going to leave you. Ma'ma's here...."

I took a deep breath. "I- sometimes I need a reminder...of what I saw in you...in this." I rubbed the back of her head, "The warm mare...the one who helped me with my change...the one who carried foals gingerly, the mare that was consumed by whatever mania those drugs put you into." I smiled warmly and ducked down to hold her once again, "And I can see her again...the mare I missed, the girl I saw trapped behind those hazel eyes."

Foxglove pushed back, "Ben...you're being stupid.... Keep talking."

I smiled down at the motherly mare slowly pulling herself back together before me, "I love you...I really do."

House Bian

I walked through the narrow streets of Translymania once again. This time, with a purpose, a fight, something important. I had a destination, I had a cause, and I was ready. Little by little my resolved hardened as I spotted the large square base tower of House Bian.

My stride was strong, my eyes sharp in the midnight moonlight. I strode past the broken metal gate, past the hastily improvised cell door that failed to keep out a small swarm of moths. With the bugs gone, I took my first step inside the dusty tomb. I knew quite a bit about these ponies, given a quick primer by Pursa before heading over.

I looked around the near pitch black room, only a small oil lantern lighting up the tiered floor of the large square room. An inverted pyramid laid in the floor, books tucked into the walls of each tier and a set of steps leading down to the center where a young stallion sat alone.

"Benjamin Wesk...." he croaked, looking back at me, "Welcome to the alcove...if you are looking for my family...they are in the west--"

I shook my head, "You know why I'm here...you got that letter already."

The colt closed up a book and turned to me. "Benjamin Arthur Wesk.... Blue eyes...Prussian heritage...son of a north German and an third generation American, and a second generation Estonian American. Height, six one, age...twenty seven in four days. Schooled at Vermont state, resident of the state until your twenty second year, when you moved to Texas. You studied equine industries and child development at A&M...eventually majoring in history with a bachelors. You moved to Equestria three days after your graduation. Yours is the first complete change to HomoNoctem, you were employed by the night guard, forced to change your life style drastically. Your wife has conducted several felony level sexual assaults to you and previous lovers, and now you have been named Count of a land unwanted and dangerous to all who have held the title." He bowed his head, "Yes...I know why you're here."

I crossed my arms, "So you know about me...good for you."

The stallion's eyes changed color, a deep blue, his mane draining to a dark hunter green. "Yes, and I know this language would be easier." He walked up to me, looking me up and down, "Do you know of me?"

I licked my lips, "Undying...right?"

The colts eyes changed to a bright yellow, "Not quite...I most assuredly die. But being reborn...I suppose yes, I am undying in your definition." He turned back to his book, "At any rate...I have studies to continue, your potion is at your right hand."

I looked to where my right hand was resting, sure enough a bright red vial was sitting on a stone bookshelf. I plucked it and looked at it. "This gonna...make me better? Stop the shaking...clear my mind?"

The stallion spun around, a pair of pale white eyes looking at me, "In honesty...you're doing better than you think, but yes...you will go into a coma for a time, but yes, your shaking will stop, you will be able to focus once again."

I swallowed hard, rolling the vial around my palm, "...Then I guess I--"

The colt's ears started twitching, "Sir...before you fall...I have...a limited prediction." he turned around, eyes blood red, "Reality is...diverging at this point. I see many paths...one, the potion lays back on the shelf...a nation will rise...a people will rule their continent once again, blood blended to create a new race, a new people. Another...the vial lays bare, you will live happily, your people...will prosper, but never to the degree of which they could. A daughter...a son...a red maned boy...a black maned girl...they are both conceived.... A choice must be made, for yourself, or for a just and proper war."

I stared at the vial in my hand, "My wife...she's trying to change for me.... The least I can do is try for her." I uncorked the vial and threw the thick liquid back, "Whatever happens...whatever I do, if it's for her, if it's for all of you...I'll be happy."

The colt looked nervous, "You life was just shortened by six years...a bullet.... But a war denied, a peoples placated, nestled in the mountains. A black maned Countess, a pretender...a knight.... It is set." the colt stated, nodding once, "Your choice is your own, and so we shall respect it."

I felt my throat go dry, "Good...but I don't need the predictions...I'd rather- figure it out...on my own." I felt dizzy, falling against the steps and laying down across them, "...When...am I gonna wake up?"

The colt trotted to the edge of his square, "...When the moon is at its highest, the day when news of great importance shall follow." He took a deep breath, his eyes shifting to a strange orange, "But...we shall keep this simple. Rest...and you will be safe amongst us."

I took a final breath, my body sweating profusely as I laid against the musty stone and fell into a darkness like no other. No memories could form, no vision could break it, no thoughts could escape it. I, for all intents and purposes, was dead.

House Wesk

I woke up to the smell of smoke, the sound of fire all around me. I dare not open my eyes, dull flashes breaking past my eyelids and burning my retinas. Then, just as sudden as my waking, a silhouette cut the light, "Benjamin, Wesk, Count of our land in the two thousands year of our fall. Four years before our rise, or, perhaps our deaths." the voice was in Thestrali, but not with the familiar dialect of the bat ponies.

I popped my eyes open, spotting a man with jet black hair and a grey leather coat. He sauntered over, boots clicking against the stone floor we were both seated on. The man ducked down next to me, tips of his boots bending as he crouched. The man turned his head to the side, "...Ben...how are you?" he asked, cracking a soft smile, "You look worried."

I felt my heart speed up. "What the fuck?" I asked, trying to get to my feet. "What is this!?"

The mimic clapped his hands together, "Two Counts atop a tower, over a burning city." He stood up, holding his hand low to help me up, "What does it look like?"

I took my clone's hand, getting to my feet. I stared at the other Ben's face. "Uh...it looks like I got starved."

He rubbed his chin, "We are a little gaunt...could be worse though." He started walking over to the edge of the round stone platform we were standing on, "We could be down there." He pointed off the edge, prompting me to walk over and join him.

I looked over the edge. "Holy shit...." I muttered, finding us in an old city, clinging to the top of a tower, the city ablaze, the horizon speckled with distant fires and the sky turned obsidian with smoke. "What the fuck is this?!" I screamed, turning to my mimic, "What is this!?"

The other me just stood there, smiling calmly, "This? It's war...but not war, it's battle without a fight, it's something that will repeat itself without your intervention." His smile faded. his voice turning from English to Thestrali, "A long war, our homes lost, pushed from the shores to the mountains, our homes turned to those that eat grass, those that fly with feathers, and those that glow." He let out a rough cough and switched back to English, "It's...from a very, very old book, you know the one...the one about how they lost it all."

I racked my brain, somehow a passage came to mind, "They came fleeing the cold, they came for a new home, but this was our land, we were not meant to share it with others. Our modest holdings, our culture, our lives were not meant to mingle without concession, and they would have only total victory."

My clone turned to me with a smile, "And one by one, our homes fell. Overtaken by the tide of ponies. First fell Manxer, the port of hope. Then fell Baxton, village of growth."

I swallowed hard, "Then fell Highrock, the once great mountain."

My mimic pointed at me, smiling wide, "But one did not fall, our death's halted by the one. The one named Luna."

I rubbed my face, the growing sense of dread flooding my guts. "But banished to our final home, a castle town, a land kept ruined and weak to quell our spirits."

My clone smiled wide, wider than ever before. "You know...you could still make all this happen." He pointed out over the vista once again. The scene suddenly different, brighter. The once dull grey stone that built up the old city was gone, replaced by a bright visage of Canterlot Castle. "We could be king, we could give them back everything. No more inequality, no more confinement, a return to what's natural."

I looked out over the burning Canterlot. "...I still don't understand...what is--"

"Oh Ben, really?" The clone put his hand on my shoulder, "One town? One single secluded town. You think that's all the Thestrals could have built? You think their xenophobia isn't earned? You think they are feared for no reason?"

I swallowed hard, "So...this...all this is supposed to happen?" I pointed out over Canterlot, the spire crumbling. "This is going to happen?"

My clone sighed, "No...it's really up to you. But before you decide let me ask you this. You've seen real Thestrals, you know what they're like. You've seen ponies, and they wrote the history books. Do you really think it's fair to them to just be brushed aside?"

"They're not brushed aside!" I screamed, a loud whistle cutting through the air. "This isn't--"

"Ben...it's a reservation." My clone stated, growing rather dour and holding me in place. "You think time makes it better? Look at the Iroquois, look at the Cree, time really has been great to them!"

I rubbed my face, the fire starting to get closer. "So it makes it okay to start a war!?"

My clone looked off to the side. "...A couple thousand years ago, this was theirs, and now they have a chance to take it back. Are you really going to deny them that?" He turned to me with a fiery gaze, "Your wife, your daughter, your family, the nobles. You could create something so much greater if you just focused on the positive."

I shook my head hard. "No. I can't let this-" I swung my hand out over the burning Equestria, "-happen! It's not right, it's not fair--"

"Fair!? Ben, me, Count Wesk, was it fair to take it to begin with?" my clone asked, striking a defensive pose. "Four thousand years doesn't make it right, and Celestia was there...she'll tell you it was a hard choice, but it wasn't! They came because they ruined their land with disharmony and violence, they froze it with their greed! So all that makes it okay to just take everything the Thestrals spent eons making, the lives they'd worked their lives for, and smashing it to build some gaudy castle!?"

I stared into my clone's eyes. "I don't care what it takes...there will be no war...but I will see them prosper damn it!"

My clone dropped his eyes to the ground, "...Always the idealist, even when fucked up on life altering drugs...that's why I like you, and...I mean, one and the same, gotta love yourself."

I shook my head, another loud whistling shrieking through the air. "You're not me...not anymore."

The clone's smile hardened into an extreme frown. But a thud kept him from speaking. A thud followed by an ear shattering crumble. And then, falling, then nothing.

My eyes shot open once again, finding myself in a dank stone tome, a book laid across my chest. I knew what book it was, my brain calling up on knowledge I had no idea I even knew. Something was wrong, even aside from my apparent burial. That pony with the changing eyes, they'd done something more than just help me clear my mind, or maybe it was by adding something, that I could gain some clarity.

I looked at the cover of the book. The Rending, a war journal. A story of a war between the Thestrals and the ponies. The ponies coming to find a new land, a new home to sustain themselves, and the Thestrals fighting to preserve everything they once had.

It was a real history, the history so many like to bury. The inconvenient history, the genocide, the conquering, all the painful truths that could tear a nation apart if ever released. A history that, if ever released, could spark a bloody war of reclamation. It was a tinderbox, waiting for a spark.

I leaned back in my stone coffin. My mind raced with everything I could do, everything the bat ponies could do. The towns they could build, the lives they could lead, the land the would have. But beyond that, the blood it would take, the innocent ponies that would have to suffer for their ancestors choices.

I couldn't let it happen. No matter how deserved the Thestrals retribution would be, it was not worth the price of blood.

And as my musings faded away, the stone covering slid away, revealing a single green colt with ever shifting eyes. "Count Wesk...welcome back."

House An Arder

I marched out of the crypt the Bian colt had placed me in, "What did I miss?"

The colt walked past me, hooves clacking against the broken stone of the lowest reaches of Arder, "Quite a bit. You were pronounced dead, the castle was refitted...and there was a...how you say, war call." He pointed to the ceiling of the antechamber of the crypt, "It was strange, I saw the deed, but who is rather hazy."

I scratched at my over-lengthened hair, "It doesn't matter, nothing good is going to happen." I fixed my cuffs and started off towards the steps up, "It's cold out...."

"It's winter," the colt stated, walking with me up to the main level of Arder, "I suggest haste, for your...countess, will soon lose herself without you."

I jogged up the steps, finding myself deeper in the castle than I anticipated. I lost the Bian in the catacombs, following the draft that pulsed with a growing creak of a large door. The sound of boots quickly joined the chorus as I found another set of stairs, the top of which was covered by an extremely ornate gate. I hurried up, pushing the gate open and stepping out into a strange corridor.

The sights became more and more familiar as the sound of boots grew louder and louder. The source was finally revealed as I entered the main hall. Legions of men and ponies alike were marching towards the center of Arder, the throne room, the seat of power, left ruined since my departure.

The men were all armed, rifles and banners in hand. Ponies marched on, armor clanking loudly as they walked in unison towards the massive arch to the throne. The broken brick and tattered cloth that dotted the castle was no replaced with fresh cut stone, warm lights, tapestries and paintings replacing the once broken castle walls.

The most bone chilling thing came as I walked with the horde. A large painting of myself with a massive black stripe across the corner. Apparently I was dead, but now is my time to rise, and seize power once again, with knowledge, with clarity, if at the cost of my body and an overwhelming sense of fatigue.

I walked into the massive throne room, bright lights filling the long catwalk lined room as Thestral and man alike cheered to the far throne. A red blur in the distance, my eyes unable to adjust. I found a place amongst the crowd, alarmed at the massive amounts of weapons clung to by each and every person. The large amounts of humans in jet black uniforms was disturbing, but I could only melt into the crowd and try to work my way towards the throne.

The room was heated, the mass of riled up bodies calling for blood. And as I walked through the crowd, the smell of sage burning above, I heard her, "Today my friends, my family, my kin, I share with you a call to arms!" Foxglove sang, her voice magnified ten fold by a speaker system dotting the walls, "Today, we take what we are owed, we take what we are now strong enough to take back! The wealth left to us will fuel the fires as we reclaim what is ours!"

I forced my way through the crowd, dragging myself towards the area just before the throne, "Today I share with you the knowledge of left to me by my lover, my lost. His death will not be in vain, nor will his will be denied!" I pulled to the head of the crowd, kicking down a barrier as she continued, "He died to change himself, to pass on something cruel, something hateful, telling me to bring it to light and carry on in his name! The crimes that--"

I stepped clear before the entire hall, all eyes falling on me as I stood tall before the throne. "Foxglove!" I screamed, stepping towards the last steps that separated me from her, "Stop this now!"

"Ben!?" she screamed, jumping upright from the throne and lumbering down the steps, her stomach bulging slightly, "Ben, you- how- the--"

I fell to my knees, catching her as she tossed her weight into my arms, "Foxglove...stop." I held her tight, her body wrapped up in a hearty leather coat, "I'm here...I've seen.... What you're doing...I can't let it happen."

Foxglove just stared out into space, her bright brown eyes unfocused and hazily darting about, "Ben...the colt said- you...the book, you left me the book."

I clutched her tight, holding her head against my chest, maroon mane hanging across my body, "Foxglove, I never left you anything," I spotted a microphone attached to her coat, ripping it away and hurling it across the room, "Foxglove...I went to get help...to clear my head, to make everything better. I can think now, I don't feel the pressure anymore, I can't feel the anger, the sorrow...it's gone." I rubbed her head, leaning forward and arching myself over her, "I don't know what the Bian did...I don't know if this is some test, or if he's...I don't know, but I'm here now, I'm here and...Foxglove...I can't let this happen."

Her breath started to shake violently, "Four months...four months and the first thing you tell me is we can't, I can't?!" she pulled free, black streaks running from her eyes, "Ben, you were dead, I read the book over and over again, I thought it's what you wanted! The best for the foals, the best for me, the best for everypony!"

I grabbed her, fighting her for control, "Foxglove, I'm sorry"- I tightened my grip on her, overpowering her hooves as she tried to push free -"But you're right, I want the best for everyone, for Wayne, for you, for every one, every being, every life!" I tucked my head into the crook of her foreleg, "Foxglove, you read the book, you know what happened...you have to know what will happen if the public knows...the violence--"

"That's the point, Ben!" she used all her strength, peeling herself just far enough away to look me eye to eye, "Ben...why'd you leave!? The foals wouldn't stop crying, Wayne learned to talk, I- I'm pregnant, and you just died!"

"Foxglove--"

"He said you were trying to fix something, and that the dose had done something bad, he said you were gone!"

I pulled her against me, "Foxglove! I was gone, but not again...no more, no more voices...no more guilt, no more thoughts or haze...." I held her back, cupping her cheek in my hand, "Foxglove...I died to change...and I look around now, I realize how fucked up this situation is...I look at you...I see anger...not the sex craze, not the needy mare I wanted to save, not the girl who cared about the foals, enough to keep herself on drugs just for them!" I ran my hand up and down her neck, gracing her ears from time to time, "Foxglove...I've been gone a few months...and already I can tell the power...it's not good for you--"

"Ben," she looked up at me, eyes reddened and bloodshot, "they need to know."

I looked back at the horde of people, the guns in the hands of men, the banners held by ponies, the sense of anger heavy in the room, "Not yet, they deserve to know, but does everyone else deserve to pay in blood?" I leaned my head down to meet her ear, "I came to babysit, a year ago now...I was a history major...I had no idea what I was walking into, and now here I stand, having died, having been named a Count of a land no one else wanted. But I've seen it before, over and over in history...knowledge needs to be shared, but no more blood needs to be spilled over a war that ended thousands of years ago."

"It doesn't make it right," she cried, her voice cracking as she jammed herself against my shoulder, "Ben, when I- they- I stopped the hormones...and when I did, and you left- you said you'd be there for me! What was I supposed to do, I- you promised me you'd never leave me, that you'd give me a chance and- you just die--"

I picked her up, stepping up towards the throne of Arder. "I know, and I'm sorry. I spent the time learning, I had no idea I was even alive, no idea what I was seeing. It was like having centuries forced into minutes, like watching a movie played so fast it's unwatchable. But I'm here now, I'm here, with knowledge, with leverage, with the power to do something great, all without shedding a drop of blood!" I set her down on the throne, holding her until she could sit on her own, "Foxglove...do you trust me?"

She stared into my eyes, body shaking as she held a hoof out towards me, "Ben...I'm scared, I'm so damn scared, you left, and I- angry, and the book, and the ponies, everything they--"

"Do you trust me?" I asked again, moving my hand from her shoulder and down to her hoof, "Do you trust me to do what's best?"

Foxglove simply stared at me, face contorted into a deep closed off frown, "Ben...I- I have to try."

I nodded twice, standing and turning to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, stallions and mares, hear me! I have for months been suffering from a sickness I could not see I had, a pained confusion, a madness, but I sought help. That help...came with unintended side effects, that perhaps have lead some to believe I was dead. But I have not, and I am here to finish where my mate started." I took a deep breath, straightening my posture and looking around, "From this day forth, Transylmania shall have a permanent parliament, and carry the crown only in matters of the gravest importance!"

The crowd bustled at my words, looking around confused. I took another breath and carried on, "These arms, our strength, a display of the power of the commoners, the power of our small county, and that power shall hence forth be distributed amongst the people, not one crown, not six nobles, the people!" The crowd started to turn, my deflection of a near catastrophic retelling of the grim history of the Thestrals working beautifully. "Elections will be held for representatives from each noble house, from each district of the city. This is my dream, a dream for everyone, not a dream for few!"

The crowd stood still for a moment, first one, then another, then then the entire room burst into cheers. Flags we raised high and cheers were sung. My displacement of power dodging the start of a war that could very well eliminate one if not two races from the planet. "No longer will one soul make the choices for all, no longer will the commoner have no power in the affairs that govern his life! Praise to Transylmania, praise to the Thestral, praise to all!"

I fell to my knees as the room started chanting. Everything seemed to bounce as I fell to my rear, looking out over the jubilant crowd. I watched as a familiar white head poked out of the crowd, rushing over and scrambling up the steps to meet me, "Pale, you are a complete idiot, do you realize how dangerous that was!?" Moon Light stepped on my toes and screamed at me, "You- I- the Countship, done!? Are you--"

I put my hand on her shoulder, "Listen...I just established a democracy...and stopped a war.... I think I deserve a little break."

Moon Light cocked her head, "War- what!?"

I shook my head, slowly leaning back to lay across the rug that spanned the length of the room, "Don't worry about it...I'll explain one day...when I think everyone's calm enough to handle it.... For now...just let me enjoy this music." I closed my eyes, letting my haggard body drift off to a warm day's rest to the sound of cheers and the shouts of an angry noble.

I had no idea where my life was going to go next, but I knew it was going to be amazing.

Doktor

I sat on my new throne, bare naked while a human doctor looked me over, "Alright...and breathe...." the doctor commanded, holding a cold metal stethoscope to my sternum. "One, in, two, out, three, in, four, out." he chanted, tapping his finger against the back of the instrument. "And...you're dead."

I cocked my head and scratch my freshly cut hair, "...I'm dead? I woke up about two days ago, and I'm already dead?"

The doctor folded away his equipment, "Yes. I mean, from a human standard at least. I mean, your liver is poisoned to hell yet somehow functioning, your right eye should by all rights have untreatable cataract, your lungs are settled with something that looks like asbestos, and your heart is functioning with an arrhythmic beat. You sir, are a walking corpse."

I leaned mean head against my wrist, "So...am I going to die, am I healthy--"

The doctor just started giggling in that peculiarly German fashion, "I have no idea! I have no idea how you're not in the ground, I have no idea how you're standing, I have no idea how you're talking, but you are! It's rather fantastic."

The nobles that sat around the hall looked uneasy, Feros, the blue mane of House Iron stepped up. "Count...can I cut his head off? His laugh is disturbing."

The doctor looked at the fiery blue mare and straightened up, "At any rate...there's nothing I can do."

I rubbed my brow, "So...any advice? Anything I can do?"

The doctor stifled a laugh, "Look, not to put bad ideas in your head. But at this point, I don't think there's much that can kill you, short of exploding or shooting yourself." He turned to the exit, starting off on the long walk down the hall, "Now if you need me, I'm going to turn in my medical license and become a butcher!"

I shook my head, rubbing my brow against the bottom of my palm. "Sure...." I flipped him off with my free hand and started waving it at him, "Have fun...bye, alvedersomething...." I waited for the door at the far end of the room to slam shut and the two armed guards to take their positions before saying anything else, "Fucker...."

The small crowd of noble ponies bustled softly, Pyrrhic walking up to me, "So, nothing has been solved?"

I shook my head as one of my guards brought a towel over, "Nope-- err, no--"

Pyrrhic cut me off, "I learned Equestrian in Canterlot...among other things about your kind."

I turned to him with an inquisitive look crawling over my face, "Wait...Canterlot?"

Moon Light walked up to the steps, "Do you not remember? You sent one of each of the houses to Canterlot...."

I scratched my head and looked around the multicolored herd, "...Did I? Everything's a little fuzzy still."

A green maned mare stepped up, "You did. Carve An Arder, Feros Av Iron, Pyrrhic Av Crag, Moon Light, Bitter Dusk...a whore--"

"Stop, being, snippy!" I yelled, pointing at the dorkish mare.

She just rolled her eyes, "and Scriva Bian. I think your words were, cultural exploration, attempted accoutrement of useful subjects, getting Pyrrhic laid, your words not mine, and training."

I glared at the green maned mare, "Who are you again?"

She just leveled an annoyed look at me, "Scriva...Bian...."

I shook my head, "Doesn't ring a bell, but if you can tell me what the hell happened while I was gone I'll throw a feast in your name."

She looked at the other nobles, "...I want to be your archivist...."

"Deal."

The mare nodded sharply, "You disappeared as the trees shed their leaves. From there a power void nearly killed your wife, but she was smart enough to kill the ponies threatening her first."

I pulled at the bridge of my nose, "She killed ponies?"

Scriva nodded, "...Joshua Nuval and...Temper Av Iron. Both tried and executed for high treason a month after your departure."

The nobles nodded in unison, only the mare from House Dusk stepping forward. "Sapar Dusk, I was the only one here around for the execution...it was quite a show."

I took a deep breath, scratching myself from the other side of my towel, "Alright I get it, lawful killing and all that jazz...feudal hell. Now can we move on?"

Scriva pushed the sex mare out of the way, "Indeed. So...executions, your wife started to claim pregnancy despite your being human...then she started talking about something called The Rendin--"

"Okay, skip that part. I've already got a few doctors trying to figure out the pregnancy thing and the rending isn't important."

The group of nobles shifted uneasily, "At any rate...Pyrrhic brought a human back with him...and not long after she was showing signs of pregnancy too."

I cocked an eyebrow and looked towards the one eye'd stallion, "Got some?"

He grew a bit red and flustered, "I found...someone beautiful, and nice...I wasn't exactly expecting to end up a father again."

I threw my hands up, accidentally flinging the towel across the room, "Bitch, I was a foalsitter, then they drugged me like a bull, then I was a daddy, then a count, and now I'm a fucking vampire zombie thing! You think you've had it rough!?" I looked to the nearest pony guard, "Speaking of daddy.... You! Bring me a foal!"

The guard shifted uneasily, "Sir--"

"Get me one of my fucking kids!" I shouted, just short of throwing a tantrum, "I just wanna hold something cute alright!?" The guard looked flustered, setting his halberd down and wandering off towards the exit. "See...it's not hard people!" I stood up and found my towel again, "So...everyone can go get pregnant and eat when we're done. Now...what else?"

Scriva looked down at a paper in her hooves, "Countess An Arder started hiring military groups...unicorns, started selling large amounts of Transylmanian gold--"

I stuck my hands out, "Whoa whoa whoa, gold!?"

Moon light stepped forward once again, "Some humans brought dyn-a-mite, and found a huge load of dragon treasure buried in the mountain. We turned it over and used it to pay for the improvements."

The green mane nodded, "We set up schools, a few businesses, nothing too grand but enough to start things back up."

I let out a long sigh, "Why does it feel like I'm most useful when I'm not here?" Just as I was slumping over a guard flew in with a green foal wrapped up in his hooves, "Wait...Wayne?"

The foal shot out of the guard's hooves, kicking him in the jaw and shooting towards me like a bullet. "Daddy!"

"Oh shit!" I yelped, just before catching a flying forehead to the gut, "Fuh--" I groaned, catching Wayne like a football and sticking my foot out in pain. Before I could hold him back he snapped his head up and sank his fangs deep into my arm, "Ow...yep." I set my free hand on his back as he curled up on my lap and started chewing. "So...built an army...having a baby...running a country.... Am I just about caught up?"

Scriva started tapping her hoof on the stone floor, "Hmmm, treasury is stable, not great, but stable. The mercenaries were dismissed. There's now a few unicorns and earth ponies settled around, pegasi are staying away...which I think is for the best. And uh...you're back. So I think that's everything."

I pet Wayne's head, feeling him go slack against my arm. "It's never that easy. I mean...crazy shit seems to stick with me like white on rice."

The nobles looked around nervously, "Um...what's rice?"

I felt a hardy frown grow over my face, "...Moon, can you find some rice? I gotta go sort out Foxglove."

Moon Light followed me as I abandoned my towel, walking bare through the main hall and towards the private rooms of the castle. "I'm sure we can. But...there is a matter, made all the more important by the recent development of...your...pregnancy."

I froze in place.

On one condition...a night of intimacy when I ask of it. On one condition...a night of intimacy when I ask of it. On one condition...a night of intimacy when I ask of it.

"Shit." I said without any emotion, only pure exposition. "Shitty shitington. This is about the sex isn't it?"

She closed her eyes and nodded, "Yes, pale, yes it is."

I hugged Wayne tight against my chin and stared at the ceiling. "Look...I was a little crazy back then, maybe I--"

Moon Light glared at me. "Pale, you gave your word that if I kept you alive...you'd offer up a night alone with me. And, not to...how you say, brag, but three attempted assassinations you never heard about." she dusted herself off with her hoof, her silver mane jostling as she struck a proud pose, "And I didn't even have to kill anypony."

I let out a strange whine, "Wayne...I'm sorr- ass!" I yelped as he adjusted his bite and sank his teeth just to the left of the previous bite, "You're just a little asshole ya know that?!"

Moon Light rolled her eyes and walked up to me, "You fed this habit. I have seen many a parent refuse to teach their foals not to bite...and now this is your reward."

"I know! Stop judging my drugged up parenting, I already know!" I sacrificed my right arm and looked to the door. "Look, you want that night, I want to check on my wife, we all want thi--"

"You promised."

I stopped, swinging free in the cold winter air. "Look. Later, okay?"

Moon Light stepped on my toes, "If you do not...I will rip your meat off...with my teeth."

I stepped aside, staring at the silvery mare as I walked towards the door. I kept my mouth shut, not really wanting to antagonize her and actually risk losing my johnny.  I carried Wayne through the dull grey stonework of Arder, getting a few strange looks from the maids and guards. I ignored them, as clear as my head was I just couldn't be assed to wear a towel around my own house. These people thought I was dead, seeing me naked would hardly be the worst possible thing.

The only downfall was it was slightly cold out, and my body was going to be less than impressive until I warmed up. And Wayne boring a hole in my arm was far more interesting.

The walk through the castle was rather confusing, but I eventually found my way and spotted a unicorn and a human looking at a piece of paper. "Hey everybody, was ist los?"

Foxglove popped out from behind the two, "Ben...what?"

I yanked Wayne off my arm, tossing him like a football towards the human, "What's up?"

"Oh god it's on my leg!"

Foxglove hurried to the doctor and tore Wayne away, "Can you not throw your son like a missile?"

I shrugged, "He basically is a missile. Anyways...baby?"

Foxglove set Wayne down and scooched him away, "Yes, they're making a picture of what they think it will look like. And why are you pant-less?"

I shrugged, "Doctor had to look me over."

"And?" She asked, circling me, red tail sweeping around me as she did. "What's the deal?"

"I'm dead."

"Huh?"

I nodded, "He said I was effectively dead, but not. He wasn't very helpful."

Foxglove stopped before me and looked me up and down, "Well, aren't you going to say something?"

I scratched my head, "There's a lot to say...what about?"

Foxglove looked at the ground and tapped her hooves, "I'm not trying to...attack you, I'm not biting you, I'm being good."

I looked at the unicorn with the drawing, "Yes. You are. Hug?"

Foxglove let out a long huff, "Yes...."

I ducked down, waiting for her to rear up and holding her against me. The usual warmth was increased ten fold around her belly, her soft coat gentle against my skin. I ran my fingertips along the inner base of her wings, causing them to shoot out. "Ben...don't leave again. I don't think I could handle that."

I gave her a few pats, scratching the coat under her wings, "I'm not planning to." I stood up, turning to the unicorn. "So what's the plan?"

The unicorn looked up at me, smiling and showing off two fangs, "It's interesting. Here."

I took the picture, frowning a little before smiling. "Pony legged human?"

The unicorn cocked his head, "Why not a human torso'd pony? I mean, we have no idea what the internals are going to look like."

I turned away from the picture. "I'm the Count...indulge my- my--" I felt my face sour at that word, "My kid...my kid." I rubbed the side of my head. Wayne was my child, but this was blood, this was going to be part of me. "I uh...Foxglove, I'm naming them--"

Foxglove nodded, "It's a her...for the record."

I took a shaky breath, "Wight." I muttered, "Now I think I'm gonna go take a seat. I feel a little tired."

The Problem

I walked through the cold streets of Transylmania with a few foals in a strange backpack, headed towards House Av Crag. I could feel two ponies watching over me, one sticking to alleyways and another looming high above. A pair of bright red heads, two unbelievably loyal guards, two of my new family members vowed to protect me. A mare and a stallion that refused to leave my side.

But in a bout of paranoia and an abundance of weapons from Foxglove's near war I'd found a pistol and a holster. The beautiful black weapon was smooth, a clean lethal weapon, but nothing I was going to snap out and take over the town with, granted no one would stop me unless I started threatening people, and even then I'd get mauled. "Daddy...you look sad." One of the foals in my back cooed, laying across my shoulder.

I huffed and reached my hand back to pet the foal across her bright orange mane. "I'm fine honey, just...gotta talk to someone." I continued to toy with the filly's head, the foals still rather sleepy. The sun was still hanging low, not yet giving way to the night we thrived in. "Go on get some sleep, I'll wake you up when we get there."

The foal purred softly, eventually settling back in my pack and causing the others to stir slightly. I made sure to walk as carefully as possible, the six foals stuffed into my pack were nestled safe and sound but snapping awake in the middle of the street would be a jolt for anyone.

The walk was mostly quiet, the sound of hooves filling the air and my subjects muttering about me. My return had been met with a tepid response, my ideas not exactly sinking in quite yet. But soon enough I'd be hosting the first parliament and see how things worked out. But, even if things fell apart House Light was back and trading massive amounts of crafts and supplies, pumping money into the economy. House Dusk was effectively still a whore house, but they had been taking to guiding tourists around and running smaller shops. House Av Iron was running the new guard and running metal works. House Av Crag were scouting out areas to expand, nearby mountains that could be either carved into, settled on and hunting for places to grow food or get back to Transylmania's herding roots.

House Bian was still learning, teaching, running the schools established and enforcing literary standards. And my house, my new family, they did what they were called to do. They kept the keep, they formed the guard, they mixed potions and made medicines, they were alchemists and servants. They were loyal, as were those I'd proved myself to before my short death. I had the nobles, but the common folk would take time.

But right now I had to sort myself out. I had to ask a man I'd admired even in my chemical haze. A dour soul that might be the single best person to ask about this. I had to contemplate destroying the thing that brought me here to begin with, I had to question my marriage, my reasoning, who and what I was and what I wanted to do with my life. And a one eye'd bat pony was the one I knew I could confide in.

I stopped as I reached the limits of the freshly reconstructed urban center of Transylmania. The vast valley below me stretched far into the bowl of the mountains, huge rolling plains of dank green spanned the gap, with a small forest of pine on the far end, all with the train coming straight up to actual town and slicing the valley in half, rural and urban.

On cue a grey and red pony slammed down next to me, "Sera...you need something?"

I turned down to my guard with a soft sigh. "Can you go on ahead, tell Pyrrhic I'm on my way?"

My guard bowed quickly and flew off. A second drifting over and walking along side me as I made my way towards a far off compound, House Av Crag was a large main hall surrounded by a large number of sparse smaller homes and a large flat area used as common ground. "Sir, might I ask why you are visiting them?"

I shook my head, feeling the mass of foals shift in my pack. "Just visiting." My boots crunched softly on the few bits of snow that had drifted onto the farmland. "While I'm there, you think you can watch the foals? Give them some time to look around?"

The guard coughed roughly. "I'm not--"

"Too bad you have to do what I say...." I stopped half way there, setting my bag down and pulling a foal from the backpack, Castor, the beautiful white filly sat sleepily in a tight ball, her bright blonde mane silky smooth. "Here, Castor, she's six now."

My guard sputtered and hissed as I forced Castor against his chest, making sure he had a good grip before letting go. "Sir...this is- I'm not good with children!" He cried, hobbling after me with Castor clutched to his chest. "You have a place for her, don't make me--"

I made sure the rest of the foals were safe and ducked down to the guard. "Here, she'll sit on your back...." I placed Castor onto my guard's back and carefully wrapped the filly's hooves around the guard's neck. "There, now come on." I started off towards the oak and stone L that was House Av Crag. I pressed on through the grassy plains, the guard grumbling angrily behind me.

"Sir...how did you end up with all these children? I- you're not even a pony so...these are all adopted, did you live in a mansion?!" my guard yelped, walking up along side me.

I shook my head, "No, just...circumstance. I tried to do something good, take care of a foal, my son, and ended up surrogate to all of these."

The guard grimaced, his face tight and truly agitated. "Then why not leave them? They are orphans, let them remains as such and let you live calmly!"

I grew a hardy frown. "No...no. These kids, House Wesk, that's the joke people are making? These kids are mine, I cared for them all, it was my life, it's still my life. I mean, I'm only Count to give them a place to look forward to, to give them a place to live free and happy. If I can't make this town a good place for them...well then I failed."

My guard let out a soft growl. "Well- I.... I've lived here my entire life...it seems like things are finally getting solved, if only due to money."

I shrugged, stepping past the property lines of House Av Crag. "Money solves things. I mean...if I can- If I can convince Celestia to donate some funds I might see about expanding Transylmaina, turning from a count to a duke...expanding, building... there are places we could tunnel to, new towns we could found...."

The guard stopped in the middle of the common area in front of the main hall. "Wait...the other peaks? You're actually going to found other towns?"

I shrugged. "It's a county...one town is kinda crappy for a county. I think we could do it, we could make more of these little counties, make a dukedom, I mean...things I've- uh...." I stopped myself before I spilled what I knew about the genocide. "Don't get me wrong...one town is okay, but a whole state in Equestria, like the crystal empire, would be better."

The guard sighed, gently laying down and setting Castor on the ground. "Well no one thought you would make it past the first month...so, fulfilled ambitions and all that." I ducked down and carefully put the foals down around the guard. "Wait, what are you doing!?"

I buried the guard under all but one foal, Wayne found his usual place in my arms as the guard struggled to move under the five foals searching for warmth and snuggling against his side. "Aw, that's cute."

The guard grew more and more flustered, his coat now host to a small huddle of sleepy foals. "Sir, why!?"

I started chuckling, turning to the actual building. "Because you need to chill out, and stop calling me sir!" I started off towards the main hall, spotting my other guard gliding to the foal laden stallion. But beyond that stood two souls, a woman with a bright red streak in her otherwise brown hair, and Pyrrhic. "Oh no way...." I hurried up to the pair, smiling wide as Pyrrhic stepped forward. "Pyrrhic, what's going on?"

Pyrrhic maintained his usual dour frown. "Please, Jamie doesn't speak Thestrali." He turned his head towards the human girl. "...Oh...and this is Jamie."

The girl bowed softly. "Afternoon," she spoke in an extremely even tone, no real accent, just clean English. I felt completely overwhelmed by the sudden bout of easy understanding.

"Uh... Ben Wesk, I don't know if you know me." I stuck my hand out, giving her a single limp shake.

The woman nodded, "I'm aware, now...sorry to say I gotta go take care of something." She slowly wandered back towards the house, leaving me and Pyrrhic standing with the sound of waking foals and my guards getting mauled.

I turned to the one eye'd stallion. "Are you two--"

Pyrrhic nodded, "Yes...and...don't teach her Thestrali. I like being able to talk without her realizing what I'm saying." He turned to me, looking up at my arms, "Is that your son?"

I scratched my collarbone, bouncing the colt in my arms. "One of them...the one I wanted to raise in the first place. Anyways I- man. Are you two married?"

Pyrrhic lowered his head, letting out a grumbly growl. "She's pregnant...with a girl."

I jolted upright. "Oh.... Uh...congratulations?"

He took a deep breath, letting it out as a hiss. "The second chance I never wanted. But, I suppose is good to move on, try again...be more...understanding, kind even."

"Hmph- that's good man." I grunted, nodding gently. "She seems nice."

Pyrrhic groaned loudly, leading me towards the front door of the huge stone house. "She is...but she keeps hugging everything. But I imagine you came for a reason, perhaps we can skip the formalities."

I followed the grey stallion into a large square entry, stairs and doors leading each and every possible way. "But formalities are so fun. So how'd you meet her?"

Pyrrhic mumbled softly and hurried down a set of stairs and into a giant room with a huge pit in the middle. "A range.... You call, a shooting range." He stepped into the huge room and walked over towards the railing that surrounded the pit. "I'd really rather not--"

I joined him, looking into the pit and looking over the arena sunken into the basement of House Av Crag. "Indulge me!" I chirped, trying not to let on the rather sorrowful topic I had come to talk about. "I mean...you met her in Canterlot right?"

Pyrrhic fell to his haunches. "You sent quite a few of us to Canterlot. Told us...learn, collect, come back stronger than ever. Then you died...your wife saw your plan through. I spent two months, learned about your guns, your bullets, I still prefer the crossbow but I did as you asked, tended the armory. And then there was those we bright back with us...." He rolled his head to me, looking rather tired, "I don't have the exact numbers...but...estimates. I brought a human...Feros brought a human- brought several...but brought a single as a mate."

"Oh...the blue mare? I'm glad...I remember liking her." I scratched my head, joining Pyrrhic on the flood and letting Wayne wander around in his half awake state, making sure he wouldn't wander too far and fall or hit something. "I saw a few humans...how many ended up coming back?"

Pyrrhic scratched his head with his hoof, "House Light would have the census...or the greens. I mean...one-hundred humans.... Perhaps seventy earth bound ponies, thirty feathered ones and...quite a few horned ones...two hundred?"

I felt my eyes pop. "Oh, damn. How many ponies are there in this place?"

"Three thousand? As I said, I do not take the census." He scratched at the side of his head. "Count...I have an odd request--"

"I got it." I could tell he was having an issue with his eyepatch. I slid my fingers between the leather straps and readjusted it. "Good?"

Pyrrhic turned to me with an exasperated gaze. "I was going to ask you to keep this quick...as shameful as it may sound I was going to spend the morning with my wife." He looked around nervously, making sure no others were around. "Our family is about to double...and soon enough the strength of my loins is going to be annihilated."

I sputtered a little, Wayne letting out a loud yawn and stretching his legs as I tried not to laugh. "Uh, you know you can just tell me you were going to have sex. ...So your family's growing?"

Pyrrhic rubbed his face, trying to clear his blush. "Canterlot Thestrals...ponies, humans...and my niece found a griffon.... So, we're about to go from thirty to about sixty in a short time, as will the other houses I fear.... Like a biological arms race. Sadly I think the whore house will win this."

I stared at him, grabbing Wayne before he could fall in the pit. I plopped him down in my lap, making sure he wouldn't hurt himself. "It's not an arms race. We're all working towards the same thing now. Did I tell you about the--"

"The plan to expand to the other mountains? It's ambitious...and I fear I will not live to see it, so until I can be sure it is a race."

I shrugged, toying with my son's ears. "Uh...speaking of families. I- I just need to ask you something."

Pyrrhic cocked his head. "Is it about my eye? Because it's still there...it's just dead."

"No! What? Why would I ask about your eye?" I looked down at Wayne. "I mean I assumed you wouldn't want to talk about it."

Pyrrhic shrugged. "It's a bit noticeable. I lost it in a fight with a drake...."

"You can't just- you can't say that so nonchalantly! That's like-- Anyways! I was- I.... Should I stay?" I asked, leaning my head forward and pressing my forehead against the railing. "I mean...should I stay in Transylmania?"

Pyrrhic looked me up and down, eventually setting his eyes on Wayne. "...That is not the question you wanted to ask...is it?"

I deflated, unable to conjure up a proper defense. "...I've been back two weeks...and I just- I don't know what I saw in her. Foxglove, she's so.... She's always been a good person, really kind to the foals, but I don't think I can stay with her.... I just...I don't know why I said yes. She dropped down on me, basically raped me, Stockholmed me, and.... I see her smile when I'm around, she's beautiful...but I just don't see what my drugged up self saw. Kindness I guess, but it's all locked up in that- that mare...and after what she lead me down, I just don't know."

Pyrrhic let out a sharp huff. "I knew her a long time ago, back when her father was alive. She was sweet, but her father was mad, ambitious, but he lacked the forethought to make his dreams a reality. And for all the hardship that came with living here, all the violence and poverty, living in Canterlot comes with its own traumas. Luna treats us as her subjects, not as independent people, the commoners fear us, and to force someone so sweet, so innocent such as that mare was...things will change. But she loves you, she weeped for you over the three months you've been gone. You where with her over her first time home in twenty years and you have brought her to be your mate."

"I know!" I snapped, carefully standing up. "But I just.... It's hard to love her, it's hard to pretend it's okay--"

Pyrrhic jumped upright, standing on two hooves to match my height. "Benjamin, find a reason. Look into the mare that you helped find peace, the mare you lead to clean life amongst the people she was meant to be with, look past the events of the past and you will find a reason." He took a deep breath. "What do you see when you look at me?" He asked, falling back down to four legs. "I have killed so many, I have killed a son with neglect, I have shot many ponies, I have assassinated, murdered, raped.... My youth was wasted as a thug in Canterlot, and when I came home, when I heard I was to lead...I had no idea what to do." He turned around, swinging his head back with his eye patch lifted, a horrid bite scar across the left side of his face. "This was the point where I chose to change, you...you've had yours as well."

I licked my lips, "Renaissance, I suppose--"

Pyrrhic let out a rough cough, turning his head and speaking perfect french. "Prance was beautiful...I killed a noble in a hotel." he snapped back to me with an extremely grim stare. "She begged me to stop when I touched her.... If you can see past what I've done, look at me as a friend instead of a monster, you can look to your wife with a kind eye."

I stared at him, sputtering and utterly devoid of wit or intelligence to talk back. "I mean- fuck. You have an amazing way of making me feel like shit and making me feel like kicking ass."

Pyrrhic flipped his patch down. "It's a skill...now can I please go sex my wife?"

I stared in awe of his amazing switch from stern to pleading. "Uh...."

"She's quite attractive and I was hoping to...indulge base perversions of the feminine and the masculine...equine and hominid."

"You gonna fuck her up the ass?"

"Ass, mouth, hips, I'll probably do just about everything to her, lick her body. She's...quite attractive."

I tilted my head slightly. "Tits are nice, huh?"

"Truly."

Talk To Me

"I'm so tired...." I groaned, laying on the floor of House Light. "...Moon...how do you do it?"

Moon Light looked up from her books, a pair of smart glasses riding her muzzle. "Do what?"

I rolled my head to look at her. "...I don't know.... Deal with confusion?" I sat upright, forcing Wayne upright. "I drank what was effectively poison, I came back from the dead to stop a war, I know things that would cripple Equestria, I've still got about twenty kids...I can't even bring myself to count them anymore, and I just don't know what to do with my spare time."

Moon Light stared at me, befuddled. "Count...you have a wife to complain to. I need to work."

I glared at her. "Since wh-- Since when are you the responsible one?"

Moon Light let out a soft sigh and pulled her glasses off. "I speak Equestrian, you're obviously concerned about something if you can't speak to me normally."

I sputtered and mumbled to myself, "I just really don't know what to do with myself. I mean, I went to Pyrrhic and asked if I should stay with my wife.... I love her, I love her so much, but I'm having these moments of doubt, not just about her. I don't know, whatever that potion I drank fixed, I think it fucked something else up."

Moon Light matched my glare. "...I run your personal guard, your county is taken care of by the noble houses, you've got a...nice, wife.... Please count...tell me of your problems."

"Was that a swipe at me?" I asked with a bit of a growl.

Moon scoffed, "No one likes a sad sack." She hummed, putting her glasses back on and looking back to her book. "I simply think these are things you have a wife for...."

I just sat on the cold floor. "...I guess. I think I'm scared--"

"Count, you dove spear first into the castle...metaphorically and literally, you've proven you have no fear."

I scratched the back of my neck, "Yeah, I was also drugged u--"

Light stared angrily at the ceiling. "Count...you keep saying you were under a substance.... Do you not think perhaps it did some good? Freed you of inhibitions? And if not...whatever the green one gave you is certainly making you more of a bitch...."

I recoiled slightly at her bluntness. "...All this from you, the mare that is guilting me into sex--"

"Count I can't guilt you into anything...I can try, but I'm starting to think you've become a rather bitchy person." Light went back to her book. "Simply an observation."

I was stunned, called bitch twice within ten seconds. "Seriously?" I stood up and walked over to her, traversing the grey stone room and looming over her while she worked. "You could be a little sympathetic."

"You've proven to me that you don't need my sympathies, I wouldn't have asked you for sex if I didn't think you couldn't handle yourself, I wouldn't ask you to father a child for me if I thought you couldn't figure yourself out." She shot back, turning her head to meet me. "But I'm busy...you've got a wife I'm sure you haven't talked to much. I mean, you've been back a month...should you not be with her right now?"

I mumbled and turned towards the door. "I don't even know--"

"I know." Moon shot back quick as ever. She hopped off her chair and turned to me. "Before, you were reckless, impulsive, but you did things. Now in the month you've been back you've done nothing but complain and worry." She huffed softly and flew to the other end of the room, the flying equivalent of pacing. "I asked you to lay with me, at first for the act, now...given the development, I thought having a strong child would be best. But if you can't get yourself out of this I think perhaps your penis would be better used in a glass displ--"

I cut her off, slamming my hand across her flank and swatting her out of the air. She landed in a small heap, a confused look plastered to her face. "...Gonna shut up?" I asked, rubbing my hand on my hip to banish the pain of the slap. "...That felt good."

Light just laid on the floor. "...Perhaps don't-- Ahh!" She let out a meager yelp as I ducked down and slapped her flank again, her hooves kicking softly, "Ow...."

I stood up and turned to the door. "Oh calm down. I still swat the kids every now and again, reminds them to play nice." I ran my thumb along my palm. "...I guess I'll.... Go talk with Foxglove."

Moon Light flared out her wings, giving them a few flaps. "...I think maybe that's a good idea. Before I take retribution for that slap...."

I made air quote, "Retribution, the hell does that me--"

"It means I'm in heat, I've got work to do, and if you don't get out I'm going to buck you. And by buck, I mean kick you across the jaw.... These things need to be taken care of in a specific order, and I really just need you to whine to someone else!"

I stared at her. "...So...work before sex? That's really responsible for you."

"Ben, out!" She snapped, hopping back onto her chair and wiggling her flank. "Go tend to your mare, for the love of Lady Luna.... Insufferable prick."

I started mumbling as I headed towards the door. "You're just mad cause I slapped your ass...."

Betrayal

I ran through the fields of war, gun in hand. I sprinted past barbed wire and watched as shells impacted the ground around me, friend and foe torn apart by thunderous cannons. A constant ringing sang in my ears, growing louder, and louder, and louder until finally a voice.

"Ben...time to wake." A soft raspy voice called out to me as I exploded into pieces. "Ben...wake up--"

"Bah!?" I yelped, nearly throwing myself from the bed. I felt my arms pinned under foals and Foxglove's engorged body. "What the fuck!?" I looked around, spotting a nervous looking mare with a red mane. She held a small bell in her mouth and a neat cap on her head.

She dropped the bell as my bed stirred with life. "Count...I'm sorry your mother in law asked me to wake you!" The mare pleaded, prancing in place. "I'm sorry!"

I let out a tired groan and slid my legs off the bed. "God damn.... It's not your fault...." I mumbled, wiping off my eyes and looking around at the piles of young bat ponies nuzzling against the place my body was taking up. "...Damn, my head hurts...." I loved to the servant. "Coffee?"

The servant nodded dutifully. "Aye, and Miss Pursa is waiting in the dining hall." She scampered off, leaving me to sort out my family and get everyone down the stairs.

I let out a soft groan, wiping off my face and grabbing for a foal to pet. A massive bed was covered in the younger foals, Wayne taking a place with his back to my face. But the foals were generally docile, only really becoming an issue when they started biting. "Ben...what happened? Who's belling?" Foxglove groaned, joining me in the horrid pseudo morning. "I heard...a bell...."

I let out a monstrous yawn and started wrapping foal tails around my arms. "Your mom is here...I think she probably wants something."

Foxglove stared out into space as I strung up foals from my arms. "...Can I go shower first? I really...I can taste myself...it tastes salty...."

"Huuuuh? Oh...sure." I reached across the bed and gave her a quick peck on the lips. "I'll go make sure there's breakfast down stairs."

Foxglove cooed softly, a warm smile growing on her face. "Thanks, Ben." She cleared her eyes and wandered towards the baths, her mane a scraggily mess of teased hair and rough night looks. She had been nothing but kind and loving since I'd come back, granted we still had our moments, she was taking the change she promised to heart, and was handling the pregnancy well.

I couldn't help but feel a little guilty for questioning her, questioning what I thought about her. I felt like admitting I had doubted why I was with her, but each dusk I could see why. A morning kiss, a brush along my side, a warm smile. For all I wanted to dislike her, all I wanted to be mad at her for being so moody and secretive, I couldn't be. It was in how she handled the foals, how she walked around me, it was soft, kind.

"...Alright kids, hold on." I mumbled, taking my first step with a load of foals hanging by their tails from my arms. I looked like a cross, bat ponies strung up across my arms like Christmas lights. Each step carried a small flutter of wings, a subconscious yawn or twitch. It felt good, fatherly, to have a load of children literally clinging to me.

I carried them down the steps from my bedroom, still clad in a pair of boxers and a sleep shirt. "Bats...everywhere...bats...." I hissed in Thestrali. "...Everywhere freaking bats, and then there's me...." I continued to hurry down, towards the nursery, towards freedom.

Each step was rather careful, the foals starting to stir, starting to look around and realize where they were. Most stayed put, realizing this was part of their normal day, but a few decided to cause trouble, try to fly away or run off. It quickly became a herding game, cut short by a familiar red head.

Pursa came walking up with a cup of coffee and a plate on her head. "Count Wesk, how are you?" She asked calmly, strolling over and holding my coffee for me. "Word from the Houses is that you've been a bit worried."

I stared at her, walking past and gesturing for her to follow. "Worried? A little.... You talk to Pyrrhic or Moon?"

Pursa nodded a few quick times. "Pyrrhic said nothing, is his way. But I fear Moon Light had a proper diagnostic."

"Oh? And what's that?"

Pursa hurried ahead of me and spun around. "She thinks you're depressed."

I stopped dead in the hall. "...Depressed? I hadn't thought of that...but I wouldn't doubt it."

Pursa closed her eyes and bowed her head, the coffee sliding off and hitting the floor with a loud clink. "I have brought some potions, perhaps one will--"

"No!" I snapped, causing her to shoot upright and the foals to jump to attention. "No... No more potions."

Pursa looked around frantically. "Ben...they will hel--"

"No more." I stated, sitting down and letting the foals wander around the narrow hall around me. "Pursa...no more. No more potions, no more drugs, just no more." I wiped my face, letting out a small sniffle as I did. "Every time someone tries to give me something to help, I change. The first time, I turned into this-" I waved my hand in front of my body. "-thing, this half human. The second I felt so hyper, that dragon testosterone to push away the poison...I couldn't focus for shit. Then I took that last one...." Foals began to crawl over me, not yet ready to give up sleep. Wayne flew up, landing with his stomach on my crown and letting out a soft coo as he settled in. "Pursa...that last one-- I mean I had no idea how long I would be gone, and I lost three months! Three months I promised to give Foxglove, three months I could have been there for her, gone."

"Ben you can't let that sto--"

"And when I come back, with some fucked up knowledge of the past, I have to make up some bullshit on the fly to save my family from tearing itself, Equestria, everything apart!" I clasped my hands against my face. "I can't do it anymore, I just can't." I pulled Wayne down from my head and cradled him in my arms. "Pursa...I might be depressed, I might make poor decious, I might fuck up, lose everything in some stupid bout of anger or bipolar sorrow. But this is my life! Not some potion's! And when I look around, to the people I have around me...the nobles, Foxglove, the foals, everything I've worked for, everything I've given my body for, I'm not ready to believe I can't fix this myself!"

I stood upright, foals softly tumbling to the floor and squirming around, half awake. I stood before Pursa with Wayne in my arms. "This little guy, you, Foxglove, Pyrrhic, everyone.... I don't need a potion to feel better, I need time, I need to live my life. I need to settle down, figure out what I want to do with my life, and do it! And that's sure as hell not something I'll be able to do with another potion in my gut!"

Pursa stared up at me. "Ben...this could fix you, in seconds."

I stared at her, pursing my lips and nodding feverishly, "Yeah? But I don't want it fixed in seconds. I want to feel, I want to hurt, I want to be alive! Even if that means living in pain, I want to live it! I want my life back!" I snapped, "Everything was simple, clean! I took care of babies, now...I don't even know, but I sure as hell know another fucking potion won't fix what's actually wrong with me!" I screamed, pointing to my heart with my right hand. "I have everything I need to fix it...but you need to give me time."

Pursa's frown hardened. "Count...it's your choice, I merely present you with what I think is best--"

"For who!?" I snapped, "Best for who? For me? For Foxglove?" Pursa didn't answer. "...It doesn't matter. I have family, I have power, I have a loving wife and I have--"

"Ben, Benjamin Wesk...." Pursa croaked, eyes starting to water. "August Twentieth...the day you went to sleep.... You weren't supposed to wake up."

I took a few moments to gather what she meant. "I was supposed to die?"

Pursa fell to her haunches. "After the marriage...if you died...the county would go to Foxglove."

I started huffing loudly. "You- you tried to kill me? You and the green kid?!"

Pursa lowered her head. "The Bian had no idea.... I simply added what should have been a lethal dose of nettle to the memory potions they had. I should have done more research, found out how to kill a human properly."

I stared at her, lip twitching slightly. "You...you of all people.... I know I was told someone would try to kill me, but I never thought--"

Pursa walked up to me. "The potion is meant to clear your mind, send you to sleep for two days.... I managed to stop your heart, for three months. Sadly it would seem three months was not long enough."

I started laughing instinctively, staring at her, my heart sinking into my chest. "Why? W- was this poison too!?" I snapped, reaching for her saddlebags. "You're trying to kill me!?"

Pursa stared at me, expressionless. "Ben.... After I saw Foxglove cry when you left, the way she reacted, I could never kill you. Not out of love or caring for you, but for her."

I rubbed my face, laughing and crying at the massive confusion. "Why? Why!? To what end? What goal!?"

Pursa licked her lips, "You saw my goal.... War, a chance to take back what was ours. Ben, live your life knowing your people are the last of millions. Live knowing you were pushed to the brink of extinction, and merely saved because of the whims of a young moon princess." She pressed her forehead against my own, "Live knowing you're a servant, knowing that no matter what, the highest thing you'll ever achieve is to be some footstool for some cretinous unicorn or pegasus."

I grabbed her by the back of her head, not to push her away, but to hold her head against my own. "Pursa...I trusted you. I talked to you in earnest...I can't let this go." I hissed, filled with extreme regret.

Pursa nodded, rubbing her head against my own. "Ben...I only ever wanted the best for them.... Now Carve is in Canterlot...Dov has a family...Foxglove has you.... But they deserve more, Ben. They deserve their homeland back, they deserve to know what happened, to take back what is theirs."

I pushed Pursa away, holding my face with the bridge of my finger. "Pursa...you know what has to happen." I whimpered, "It's not even my call...it's Moon's."

Pursa nodded, "Ben...I've lived sixty long years, I've seen my family safe...and maybe I couldn't give them everything they deserve, but I've given them things they could never have dreamed of...I gave them a chance."

I huffed strongly. "I would have given them the same chance, all you had to do was ask me. All you had to do is be honest."

"Ben...I'm An Arder, we work in the shadows.... What did I tell you? We're the counts servants?" She chuckled softly. "Ben, we're named An Arder because we always take the throne. We kill the pretenders, we poison, we lie, our family is more murderous than the Iron, more cunning than the Av Crag, we always take the throne, through blood or diplomacy.... Sadly yours was meant to be in blood."

I stared at her, sobbing softly but holding back my tears. "...Pursa...I was your friend, and you tried to kill me when I looked for help, to better myself for your daughter...."

The elder bat bowed her head. "I take responsibility. Now...take what retribution you must."

I stared at her, shaking slightly. "...Run." I croaked, rubbing my fingers across my head. "Run, now!" I screamed, pointing to the door. "Get out of Transylmania, and don't ever come back!" I snapped, "This is for your advice...for your help, and for Foxglove."

Pursa sobbed softly as I picked up my children and started off. "You leave me alive...for what?! Why!? I just admitted to regicide and you let me live!?"

"Mercy." I whispered, "We all have to move on, some faster than others." I walked towards the main hall, "...Pursa...I'll take care of her. I promise I'll take care of her, but you're not welcome back."

Bleak

I sat back, watching as the foals enjoyed their morning. I'd put on some Disney movies I'd managed to order, and simply let them have their fun while I contemplated suicide. I felt low as the iconic betrayal scene from The Lion King played, only driving the shank of betrayal all the deeper. I couldn't make sense of any of it.

Here I was, a college dropout, lying about my degree, meant only to care for foals, and now I was dug in deep where I didn't belong. I was an idiot among politicians and murderers. Even the ponies I got along with were assassins and courtiers willing to cut eachother's throat for the limited power this tiny city held.

And as my children, the ponies I was to protect, the ponies I loved, enjoyed their now easy life while I got ready to banish what had become my blood. My own family had betrayed me, the mare who brought me here, who pulled me through as I did for her, was sitting in the dark about it.

My mother in law, my friend, the mare I'd spilled my guts to. The mare who asked me to protect her daughter, the mare I'd come to think of as not just a friend, but as someone who truly cared for me, had attempted my murder. And now I was presented with two options, two paths forcing me to banish the person my wife was fighting for, and the one she cared for enough to pull me, a completely useless but opportune bastard into a city that would try to kill me.

I stood up as the movie wrapped up, walking quietly out of the room. The castle was now bright, lanterns and electric lights slowly turning the castle from archaic and damp to livable and homely. But none of it could distract from what I had to do, who I had to betray to deal the law.

I had been back a while, yet I still couldn't face her, I couldn't face Foxglove. I wanted to. I tried, but every time I reached her door, found her in the castle, my stomach sank, my mind went blank and my words fizzle in my mouth. She'd promised a change, as had I, yet I couldn't see her, I couldn't reap the rewards we'd both worked for.

My boots clicked against the stone floor, a single solitary set of steps, constantly drumming away as I marched towards the date. But as I stepped on, something broke my marching, a set of hooves clacking loudly about the stone hall toward the outside. "Ben...talk to me."

I froze, leaning against the wall and trying to formulate a plan.

"Ben, I know what happened, I know who you've been talking to! I know what you've been saying, why you're worried, I know it all! Now talk to me!" A hoof grazed down my leg. "Ben...please, talk to me."

I stared down the hall, watching the lanterns flicker in the distance. "What am I supposed to say? Sorry?"

"No, because you know what, this was the plan all along!" Foxglove shouted, stomping her hoof and causing a loud thud to each through the halls. "Ben, it was always the plan to get somepony- someone into the counthood, then kill them!  Ben, I saw my chance, and I took it! Do you know how many others did the same!?" A hoof gripped my coat, tugging it about waist height. "Ben...I thought about it, killing you, I thought about killing them all! The Av Crag, the Av Iron, I thought about burning them alive, paying them to kill each other off, I wanted it all! But you know what, I couldn't kill you!"

"So what, all you're telling me is how fucking heartless--"

"Because you know what! I tried to lie when I said I loved you, but somewhere in the lies, somewhere in the potions and the drugs, the foals, I actually believed you might love me back! I thought you might actually care about me, more than my body, for what I am. And you know what, I think it was a huge mistake believing you'd actually care about me! Because I- I stopped the hormones, I stopped the potions for you! Because I thought maybe if you loved me then, you might love when when I was normal, when I spoke with a clear mind, and when I could prove I wasn't an idiot!"

"Foxglove I did love you!" I shouted, starting to walk down the hall. "I- I still love you...but you saying all this, I don't know what you mean by it!"

Foxglove followed close, "Ben, when we met...I knew who you were, or I thought I did. You were some young stallion, I could buy you with sex, with the life, it was supposed to be easy Ben! But it never is, because I really did think, somewhere in my drugged out mind, you actually cared about me, and I let myself care back!"

I stopped dead in the hall, resting my head against the stone. "Foxglove...is this what you--"

"Ben you've barely spoken to me since you've been back! Don't pretend you know me, because who I was, that hyper sexual freak, that thing, that's not who I am!"

"So what do you want!? You want me to pretend I didn't fall in love with that? You want me to admit I liked the sex?! That I liked having you hang off me like that!?" I leaned against the wall, planting my face against it. "Maybe I loved that mare, maybe I'm shallow!"

"Ben, I don't want you to explain a thing! I know what's going on, I know what happened and who I was. I wish you could have been there when I started changing back, but you were gone! And I know it's not your fault, I know it's hard facing all these things, but I want to be here for you--"

"And what if you're not the same!?" I screamed, pulling my arm up and tucking my eyes against my shoulder. "Foxglove...what if I don't love what you really are? Can I ask you go back? Could I?"

"Ben, face me!" Foxglove shouted, pressing a hoof against my boot. "Ben, if this is how it ends, then this is it, but I won't have you stand there and refuse to speak to me face to face!" The hoof tapped against my boot a few times. "Ben, I saw you change, I saw what you were before the change. You were kind, you were ready to help, and I wished I'd known you better back then!"

"Why!? You were going to--"

"I was going to kill you, but how could I?! You- you asked me to change, for you, but you were worried! Not about yourself, but for me! How could I kill someone begging me, demanding me to get help, to get better!" The hoof traced up my leg. "Ben, without you I'd still be nursing foals back in some dark room in Canterlot! Or- I'd be sitting on the throne, watching as I sent ponies to die for a cause settled thousands of years ago! I'd be screaming my head off for blood then crying like a baby because I couldn't control myself. And now...maybe I didn't expect this-" A hoof grabbed my free hand, tracing it down as she pressed herself against my leg. "-maybe nopony expected this, but it happened...and even if this is the end, I'm glad it did."

I felt my hand press against Foxglove's stomach, her taut skin warm under my touch. "Ben...please, if this is the end, at least look me in the eyes when you say it!"

I took a deep breath, my stomach twisting as I tried to think of what to say. "Foxglove...I don't know what to do." I turned to her, finding her standing proud in the middle of the hall. She was beautiful as ever, but something about her hurt me, stuck needles into my skin, burned me. Her eyes felt brighter, and her body felt stronger, even her face felt powerful, yet still endlessly elegant. Her coat was darker, yet shined in the lantern lit hall, her hair was bright, and her fangs, just peeking out from her lips shone bright white. "I don't know what to do."

My eyes started to sting, my arms trembled as I fell to my knees. "Foxglove, I don't know what to do." I croaked, breathing haggered and heavy. "I really don't know what to do." I caught myself before I fell flat on the ground, on my hands and knees before her. "Foxglove, I just don't know what to do!"

"It's okay Ben."

"It's not okay!" I screamed, my voice growing hoarse, "Foxglove I've got kids! It's been a year, I've been here a year and my life has changed so much! I just- I don't--"

"Under the darkness, I will hold you, until we outlast the day." Foxglove sang, pressing her head under my torso and nudging me upwards. "And when the sun falls, and we come out to play, we shall be free."

"Stop it!" I screamed, throwing my arms around her and sinking my face against the side of her head. "Foxglove...stop it."

"And when again the moon falls, and it's time to go away, we shall never fear." Foxglove nuzzled my head. "Because we always know, as the sun falls away, the night will hold us again." She continued to hum, supporting my upper body as I bawled into her mane. "It's okay Ben...it's okay...everything is going to be okay." Foxglove let out a soft sigh. "Trust me, and it'll all be okay."

I pulled back, staring my mate eye to eye. My stomach was in a thick knot, constantly growing tighter as I tried to stand. But I couldn't move, locked eye to eye with a hazel irised murderer. Sat with a confessed traitor, begging me to trust her. I was face to face with a devil, yet only one phrase came to mind. "You promise?"

Foxglove smiled, growing misty as she stared at me. "I promise, Ben, I promise."

Full Stop

I walked out of the castle on the hill. I spent a minute staring out over the town, watching the sun slowly peak over the mountains. Such a beautiful place held so many murderers, so many plots, convoluted and simple. And now here I was, thrown smack dab in the center like a fool thrown among kings and queens.

I couldn't keep up with it. I couldn't keep up with my wife, I couldn't keep up with my family, I couldn't keep up with the town, none of it. I was tired. My life was simple before this, and I would see it simple again. Maybe I couldn't go back, maybe I couldn't tell her I wanted to leave, but I could honestly tell her I didn't want to be the count if this was what it entailed.

But I had something to take care of, and something I couldn't put off any longer. So with a heavy heart I walked calmly towards the spot I would banish a friend. This was it, I just had to do this, hand over the county to Foxglove and live in peace among these people.

Everything felt heavy, my body finally feeling, normal. The cold bit into my skin as I spotted Pursa, sitting with a few guards surrounding her on the edge of town. The walk was agonizing, but I stood tall, knowing this would be it. Ponies were gathered up around the scene, like some sickening form of show for the homicidal lunatics.

I walked onto the scene,  stepping into the circle formed around Pursa. "...Well, this is it, right?" I asked, looking down at the crying mare. "Pursa, look at me."

Pursa shook her head. "Just do it."

I shook my head. "It's not that easy." I looked out around the crowd of ponies facing us, waiting for me to pass my judgment. "I realized something, Pursa. I never thought I'd see such obsession from not only you, but Foxglove, the town, the nobles. It's truly fascinating, but I think it's time to end."

"Then end it." Pursa croaked, trying to avoid making eye contact. "Stop standing there and end it!"

I took a deep breath, turning to the crowd. "Pursa An Arder, for the crimes of attempted regicide, high treason, conspiracy and--"

A warm voice cut out from the crowd, "Sir, conspiracy isn't a crime!"

I looked around the crowd. "Who said that!?"

A mint green pony pulled through the crowd and into the circle. "Hemlock Bian!" the pony stated, bowing deep.

I watched the mare straighten out. "You speak English?"

The mare smiled warmly. "I do!"

"Then what the fuck do you mean, conspiracy isn't illegal."

The mare scratched at the ground nervously. "Conspiracy isn't illegal...it's just not." She teetered her hoof on the cobblestone road. "There are no laws against it, nor is regicide...."

I felt my jaw nearly fall off. "Are you serious? Are you all fucking serious!?" I turned to the crowd of ponies, "Get me the nobles, now! Bring me Pyrrhic Av Crag!" I screamed, spinning around to Pursa, "Is she saying the truth!?"

Pursa looked up at me. "Ben, you're the count, you make the laws." She stared at her hooves, "But no...there are no laws against plotting or conspiracy."

I took a deep breath. "You people are just so obsessed with that castle, so worried about who's in charge of this shitball town." I rubbed my face, thinking back to each and every noble, each day I'd spoken with them, and how each of them must have been planning to kill me at some point.

I felt my gut churn as I resigned to finally end the constant feuding. "Pursa An Arder, for your crimes against myself, against the state, and against your daughter, I sentence you to death." My voice carried heartily through the square, causing the crowds to bustle. "In light of our relationship and your previous service, I am commuting my punishment to permanent exile with a final punishment." I took a deep breath and turned to a pair of guards that were watching my sides. "Break her legs." My voice was a simple murmur, I took absolutely no joy in causing her pain, but I couldn't let this go easy.

Pursa froze in place, shaking violently as my guards moved around her. "Ben...take care of her--"

I shook my head. "Pursa...she doesn't need anyone to take care of her, she needs someone to stand with, beside, arm in arm and hoof in hoof." I steadied my breath as the guards started leading Pursa away. "I'm sorry Pursa, but I'm tired of this." I wished I could let her go, I wished I could give up, but I needed to step up. If not for myself, then for the mare that spared me, the mare that brought me here, and more importantly, the foals she placed under my care.

A loud thud pulled my attention away from Pursa as she took her final walk towards banishment. Pyrrhic stood next to me, folding his wings and looking up at me. "What happened?"

I shook my head, brushing off my waist. "I just sentenced a mare to be crippled and tossed away. What's worse, it's Foxglove's idea." I held my stomach, my throat burning as my stomach churned. "Pyrrhic, did you ever plan to kill me?"

Pyrrhic let out a long sigh. "Yes...."

I turned to him with an increasingly heavy frown on my face. "And?"

Pyrrhic shook his head. "And nothing. We spoke, you lead, then you left. Nothing ever came of it, and you proved yourself an ally more than an enemy." Pyrrhic looked up at me with his one violet eye. "I wouldn't have met my new wife without you, I would be living in a hovel without you, but yes, there was a time I did plan to kill you. Every pony in the city was, and would have if you didn't work towards rebuilding."

I rubbed my head. "I just don't understand. I tried to change, to get better, clear my head and do what's--"

"Ben, you never did wrong." Pyrrhic tugged my pant leg, calling me to follow him towards the edge of the town. "I can understand your want to change, as one father to another, I understand not wanting to act on impulse and emotion over logic. But you need to understand, your life is not your--"

I ran up to Pyrrhic, grabbing him by the mane and pulling him back. "No! My life is my own, it's not yours, it's not their's, it's not my wife's, it's mine damn it!"

Pyrrhic pulled free, "Really? Then perhaps--"

"Shut up!" I screamed, grabbing his throat and tackling him to the ground. "Shut the fuck up!" I slammed Pyrrhic into the ground, causing him to cringe as his skull clocked the ground. "Stop telling me what to do! Stop telling me to accept this! I'm not a cou--"

"Ben!" My captive shouted, pushing his hooves against my shoulders. "You are the count! You are, and will be until the day you die! Accept it!"

"Why!? Why should I!?"

"Because it's who you are Ben! It's who you have to be, who we need you to be!"

I slammed Pyrrhic against the ground. "Then why kill me!?"

"Because it's our way!" He screamed, thrusting his head forward and pressing use forehead to forehead. "It's who we are, and--"

"It doesn't have to be!" I shot back, grabbing every inch of hair that I could. "All the potions, the drugs, the mind altering bullshit and the lies! I'm sick of it--"

"Then change it!" Pyrrhic screamed, causing a nest of crows to burst up and into the sky, the cackles and caws the only noise heard for miles. "Ben...take your place, take your wife, take the power being offered to you, and change it yourself! Try as you might, try to make a parliament, try to push responsibility away, but it will always come to find you! Because you are our count, you are a target, an icon, but more than that, you are our leader!"

"Then why did she try to kill me!?" I screamed, tucking my hand under Pyrrhic's head and pulling him against my shoulder. "Why...? I just don't understand it, what's so important about that fucking castle, what's so important about being count!?"

"Power." Pyrrhic whispered, back pressed against the ground and hooves dug in against my chest. "Power, it's always been about power."

I took a deep breath, watching my breath curl before my eyes. "That's it?"

Pyrrhic stared at me, burning a hole through my head with his one good eye. "Ponies hunt after what they do not have. And in a town such as this, being above the madness, fighting to the top is all that will keep you going. You either strive for that pile of rubble and pray the answer to your harm is inside, or you fight day to day just to find enough food."

"But it doesn't have to be like that anymore!" I shouted, finally letting go of him. "We have food, we have light, you're safe now! What's left in--"

"Your wife, your family, the An Arder, they are born to want that castle. They're named after the stonework, it's their life to want it. And perhaps in time we might undo that, in time we might realize the fortune that has befallen us, but these things take time, Ben, they take time!"

I clutched my arm and stood upright. "No...they need time, and a force of change." I took a deep breath, my body shaking hard as I thought of what to do. "Pyrrhic, I need your help."

He stood, shaking his head. "Count, I can't help you ru--"

"I need you to spread the word, plotting and conspiracy are hereby criminalized, punishment is summary execution."

Pyrrhic snorted loudly. "You expect ponies to accept this? Court intrigue has been--"

"No, I expect you to enact my law." I turned towards the castle, watching the moon rise over the rim of the valley. "Should a pony protest, tell them what the punishment is. If they continue to argue, well...the law might not be in paper yet, but a promise of execution is still a promise."

"You're asking me to kill? To assassinate, for you?"

I shook my head, snapping back to the purple headed stallion. "No, Pyrrhic, I'm asking you to help me bring modern law to this place. Do you disagree with my plan?"

Pyrrhic huffed loudly. "That's a loaded question. But I do agree. I have a wife, a pregnant wife, I have a house to keep in order, we have hunting grounds again, we have food and sport, I have no time for the plotting and the lies anymore."

I nodded, "So do I, and you know what," I started to laughed as I turned back around to the castle. "I don't want to be the count. But...would anyone you know make the change towards the future?"

Pyrrhic continued to walk down towards the land he owned outside of the town. "Ponies I know would take power and rule as tyrants. I think, and perhaps this is opinion, but a count who doesn't wish to rule may be the most fit to rule. You have no ambition, you come from a new land, you are exhausted and now you are clear of mind, you need to lead, if not for--"

"I know, Pyrrhic, I know." I rubbed my face, letting out a horridly pained shout. "I know, and I'll do it. Not for you, not for the town, but for my mare, my children, and to end this constant infighting and treachery!"

Pyrrhic nodded, "I can think of no better reason. And you will have my aid."

"Even if your own family is plotting against me?"

Pyrrhic's face scrunched up, a pain crossing his face for a moment before he straightened out. "If it comes to that. And what of your wife? What of your family? You must know--"

"I'll take care of my family, don't worry." I turned away, taking a deep step towards home. "Thank you Pyrrhic. Now, kill if you must, but make sure your punishment is just and make sure my words are clear."

"Then I ask this of you. What was it like?" Pyrrhic walked up to me, catching me by my coattails. "You changed, you were so excited, so energetic and ready before you left us for those months. What changed, was it worth it?"

I knelt down and spun around on my heel. "Pyrrhic, before I came here, back in Canterlot I didn't look like this. I was just a normal human, no teeth, slept in the night and lived in the day. Then I got my job, was just supposed to take care of kids. Foxglove...she was just my boss, she gave me some potions to let me work better at night, to...it turned me into this, a night dwelling, meat hungry, furry faced man I am today. I felt so, hyper, so strong, but I couldn't focus. Everything was happening so fast, too quick for me to think, I just had to do! And- just one day, Foxglove just made me so mad, so fucking angry, and I told her, change or I'm going to leave."

Pyrrhic stared at me, watching intently. "And?"

"And...I promised her, if she would change, I would change. She was so...so emotional, so hungry, needy and hotheaded. And I was going mad, and in the brief moments I could calm down, look back at what I did, it was just crazy!" I jumped upright, laughing slightly. "I ran through the streets to catch the train here! I charged into that castle with a sword, not knowing what was inside! I ran around, visiting each house day after day, running around like mad and passing laws that I didn't think through! I sent you, the others, I forced you to go to Canterlot, and maybe it worked out, but you could have died, you might have killed someone!"

Pyrrhic walked with me back up the road. "Nothing is changed without action, Ben."

"But I could have thought about it! I could have asked Foxglove, or Pursa, or anybody what would have happened!" I walked backwards, watching Pyrrhic walk behind me. "Acting is great, but you need to think things through to! And I was so desperate to get back in my own head, to get some control back, I drank poison without even worrying about it!"

Pyrrhic stepped quickly up to me, putting a hoof on my toe. "Ben, was it worth it?"

I lowered my head, laughing slightly. "I'm finding out that beneath the emotional wreck of a mare, my wife is intelligent, strong, she's a traitor all the same...but she's still my wife, she's still got the same heart, the way she speaks to me, the way she touches me, it's full of regret. And now, I can actually see the convoluted mess that's so hardwired into this town, my own family tried to kill me. But I can think clearly, and I can make the right choices now, and I can make sure the people that have always been there, the foals, I can make sure they're safe, and they grow up well."

"Then it's worth it?" Pyrrhic asked, "I'm sorry...I genuinely find it hard to tell with you."

I took a deep breath and shoved him of my boot. "Pyrrhic, it's worth it to see Wayne, Castor, Scotch- all of them grow up safe, strong, and with the best I can provide for them." I pulled my jacket straight. "Maybe I'll need help doing this, maybe there will be days I break down, when I remember what Foxglove told me, but I'll be your Count." I snapped my jacket tight against me and turned to the castle, "I'll lead you, because you obviously can't lead yourselves."

"I can lead myself, Ben. It's the others you should worry about." Pyrrhic muttered, turning to the road. "I'll spread the word. Your law is to be unopposed."

"Thank you Pyrrhic, I can't do this alone, but I think I can find a way through with your--"

Pyrrhic stomped and turned around. "Ben, let me work! Go- go talk with your wife, or the others. Leave me to work! I'm sorry to yell, but since you've returned to us, you've done nothing but talk nonstop!"

I felt my stomach empty, feeling like a freshly popped balloon. "I- you want me to be the count, yet you cut me off and tell me to shut up...which do you want!?"

Pyrrhic just shook his head and walked off, "We're too old for this Ben! Too old to be screaming in the road like children! Now go and run your country!" He started mumbling and muttering as he walked off, "Stop the bleeding heart bullshit...we get it, you need help, you don't want this, but you'll do it. Very heroic, laa dee da...."

I watched the elder stallion wander off, "...Bitter old fuck...."

How We Grew Up

I stared out over the nursery, ponies fussing about like mad, foals scurrying around under the tables and spriting around. It felt amazing to see them so calm, so happy and free while I was subjected to treachery at every turn. It meant I was doing my job, and seeing them happy gave me the energy to get through each day. It warmed my heart, kept my sane, and watching them grow from the toddlers they were into functioning kids felt euphoric.

"Daddy- daddy- uh- uh daddy!?" A foal shouted, grabbing my leg and running in a tight circle around me. "Daddy, he's he's my daddy!" I looked down, spotting Castor, the white and blonde filly sprinting a figure eight between my legs. A trail of unfamiliar foals forming up around me. "See, I told you! You said I was a faker, but he's here, he's here, he's--"

"Castor who's this?" I waved my hand to the foals, ducking down and letting the filly run into my hand. I scooped her up by the belly, waiting for her to flare out her wings and letting me raise her up.

"I'm flying!" She shrieked, thrusting her forelegs out as I swung her around at arms length. She continued to giggle as I tucked my arms under her forelegs and held her upright. "Um...these are my friends!"

I looked down at the tired looking foals. I had no recollection of them, their faces shaped differently, more sharp, eyes sunken slightly, they looked native. "Hmm, baby-girl, can you go get mommy?" I asked Castor, setting the blue eye'd babe down. I'd kept things together enough to leave the foals thinking everything was fine, and for the most part, inside the walls they were. The world that lay beyond this bastion was hard, surprisingly cruel and muddled with untranslatable plots and factions.

Castor spun around, lashing my ankle with her tail and sprinting towards the next room. "Mommy!?" Soon enough I would be forced to look Foxglove in the eyes again, after her mother was crippled and banished, after I pushed my will on the people, after everything I still needed to force myself to look at her. I had to, because I was dead, I was dead the second I stepped off the train, I was dead the second I met her, now all I could do is make sure they were safe, happy, and that they had a home by the end of this.

I ducked down, staring at the multicolored foals. "...Who are you, because I can tell you're not from Canterlot."

The foals took a collective step back, mumbling amongst themselves. "We--"

"Which one of you speaks Equestrian?" I asked, pointing a finger around the small herd. "You...green mane, it's you isn't it?"

The green maned colt stepped back, "I don't understand...please don't hit me."

A blue maned filly stepped up, "I can...sir...."

I turned to the filly, waddling towards her and spotting something strange on her ear. "Alright, and your name?" I asked, running my hand over the filly's cut ear, gently rubbing the slash between my fingers. "Does it hurt?"

The foal brushed my hand away. "Baux, and no...it--"

I stood up, looking around the room and spotting a passing nurse, "Hey, bandaids and disinfectant!"

The nurse nodded her head sharply, flying off and leaving me to tend to the new foals. The bravest, blue maned one started to back off. "I don't need your help." She hissed, her wings held up slightly, "I'm fine!"

I reached out, grabbing the filly by the back of the head and pulling her closer. "Oh stop it." I scooped the filly up by the rump, causing her to panic and sink her teeth into my arm, only a single fang puncturing my skin. "Oh that's not good." I pulled the filly back, lifting my finger to her mouth and pushing it past her lips. "Let me see."

The filly tried to bite through my fingers, the tiny herd throwing themselves against me, trying to free their leader. "Put her down!" "Monster!" They shouted in broken Thestrali, trying to move me free of their friend.

I kept on, lifting the filly's lip and spotting a chipped fang on the right side. "That's not terrible...." I pulled my hand back, wiping slobber on my pantleg. "Not good, but not terrible." I tucked the filly into my lap, holding her in place as the nurse I'd sent for started trotting over. "Over here, I need a soaked cloth or something."

The mare nodded, undoing the cap on a bottle of disinfectant and wetting a cloth. "Here." She held it in her hoof, leaving me to take it and get ready for the hard part. "Did you--"

"I've got it." I mumbled, digging my fingernail against the fresh scab. "Gonna hurt...but I got it." I pet the filly's head with my wrist. "Bite down." I mumbled, offering up my arm. "It's gonna hurt."

The filly pushed hard at my arm, "Get off me!"

"I offered," I mumbled, digging my fingernail against the cut and tearing off the scab, "Oh...that's bad--"

The filly let out a terrible howl, causing the group to back off and give me some space. "Ow, no no no! Help me!" She cried, burying her head against my wrist and prying at my arm. "Mommy, daddy, help!"

I felt my usual instincts kick in, the word daddy had become hardwired into my brain by now. "I got ya." I pressed the cloth against the cut, cradling the foal's head as she screamed into my arm. "Hold on baby girl." I looked up, spotting the nurse struggling to get a bandaid open. "Here, leave that...go get me something sweet, okay?"

The nurse nodded, bolting off and leaving me to rip open the bandaid and wrap the cartooned patterned mess over her cut. "There we go...there we go." I pressed hard, rubbing the bandage flat and tracing a circle over where the cut had been. "You okay?" I moved the filly about, cradling her in my arms.

Her hooves shot up, protecting her face. "You're bad! Go away, just leave me alone!"

I shook my head. "Ya'll are gonna hate me when it's time for shots." The nurse ran back, dropping a wrapped sweet into my palm and bolting back off. I carefully unwrapped the sweet, bouncing the filly in my arms as she sobbed. "It's okay, I got ya, I'm here." I held the candy for her, humming softly as she wiggled around. "Come on...you're okay." I pressed the sweet against her lips. "Open."

The filly shook her head, "Go awa--" I took the opportunity and popped the candy into her mouth, "Bad!" She hissed, trying to claw out of my arms, her wings pressing against my forearm. "You're bad!"

"Shh," I whispered, leaning back and bouncing the filly in my arms. "It's okay...you're okay, you're safe." I stood up, causing the remaining foals to step back. "I got ya baby girl, I got ya, no one's gonna hurt you." I cooed, tucking the foal against my shoulder and holding the back of her head. "Talk to me...how old are you?"

The whimpering filly started to chew loudly, "...Five...."

I bounced the filly in the crook of my arm. "Five? That's pretty big, too big to be crying over a little cut." I shifted the filly to my other shoulder. "How'd you get here?"

A soft, fiery voice caught my attention. "That was me, Ben." I swung myself around, spotting Foxglove standing before me, "I brought them here."

I stared at her, hiding my frown with the filly's back. "Who are they?"

Foxglove walked past me, corralling the remaining foals and sitting behind them. "Orphans, bastards, foals nopony wanted to keep around." She looked up at me, scanning the filly in my arms. "And I was right."

"About what?" I hissed, leaning against the filly's head and letting the motion of her jaw force through my cheek. "You using me again?"

Foxglove shook her head hard, "No, Ben, I knew you'd care." She walked around the foals, stepping onto my toes. "I knew you'd do something like this, I knew you'd jump up like the stallion I've come to expect from you."

I frowned hard, "I wish I could say the same." I mumbled, turning away. "This is something I'd love to say I expected from you, and it's something I'd expect from you back in Canterlot. Now...now I just--"

"Ben, I've been nothing but honest with you!" She shouted, grinding her hoof against my shoe. "Please...if I could take it all back I would, if I could have just been honest I would have! But I didn't know, and I- I've been burned to many times before!"

"Not by me!" I shouted, leaning away from the filly's ear. "I was always ready to help you, and I had the energy, like a damn caffeine addict I was ready all the time."

Foxglove kept pace, swinging around and keeping us face to face. "Ben...please," She ran a hoof along my elbow. "You asked me for help, you asked me to help you figure things out, but every time you turn around and refuse to look me in the eyes."

I shook my head, nose brushing against the filly's wing. "It's hard okay!" I held the foal tight. "Moving on is hard, trying to get over this is hard, and you pestering me--"

"Daddy...." Castor appeared under Foxglove, eyes wide and starting to glisten. "Why are you mad at mommy?"

I felt a jagged frown draw over my face, the filly swallowing hard and stopping her sniveling. I took a deep breath, controlling my face and setting the filly down amongst her friends. "Foxglove...you want me to move on?"

Foxglove looked up at me, expression similar to the filly beneath her. "I'd give anything--"

"Give up this place." I mumbled, "Give up this place!" I shouted, stomping the ground and causing everyone in the room to stop. "Come back with me! Come with me, back to Canterlot, help me raise these kids right while the others sort out the laws I've given them!"

Foxglove looked shattered, her eyes hurt, her mouth agape. "Ben, we can't leave!"

"See," I shook my head, waving my arm around the room. "What here can't be rebuilt in Canterlot? What here isn't already there!?"

"Ben--"

"The castle!?" I shouted, presuming her response. "Foxglove, it's always been the castle, I get it! It's been this, piece of rock you used as a status symbol! It's big, it's powerful, but it's just a rock!" I ducked down, face to face with her. "Now please-" My expression fell, my mouth heavy and my eyes pained. "-come home with me...I want to move on, but I don't think you can while we're here. And if you can't...if you, the mare I love, the girl who brought foals in from the street, can't move on, how am I supposed to!?" I shot upright. "I need you to be strong too! I can't do this on my own anymore, that's why I asked you for help, and that's why I'm asking you now--come home with me?"

Foxglove stared at me, eyes darting around the room, the foals, and me. "Ben...I'm scared. I'm scare if we leave here, I'm scared the moment we step away everything will come crashing--"

"Foxglove...come home with me, to Canterlot, to Vermont." I reached down, slowly crouching down. "Help me take the foals, and show them a world beyond these walls, while the people I trust make this place safe. I grabbed her hoof, turning up upright and pressing it against my chin. "Please...come home with me, help me raise our children."

Foxglove took a deep breath, hyperventilating slightly. "Some of them can't speak Equestria--"

"They'll learn."

"It's going to be hot ou--"

"We'll keep them cool."

Foxglove stared at me, eyes burning through my head. "What if we can't come back?"

I pulled her closer, "Foxglove...we've done what we can, and I don't want to hate you, I'm so tired of hating, I just want to feel happy again." I pulled her against me, digging my fingers in against her mane. "Please...help me love you again."

Foxglove dug her hooves against my chest, pushing free and lowering her head. She bit her lip hard, opening her mouth before pulling her head up. "I've never been to earth...we're gonna need passports aren't we?" She croaked out, half crying from a mix of worry and pain. "We're gonna need a lot of passports...." She laughed, leaning her head against my shoulder. "Oh gods I'm scared. My stomach is fluttering so bad...."

I held her against me, spotting the foals sitting there gormlessly. "...Yeah, we're gonna need a lot of paperwork." I looked around the room, word spreading from Castor about the word Canterlot. "...We should make Moon Light do it. She's a bitch...."

Foxglove sputtered a soft laugh. "Ben...how do you do it?"

"Hmm?"

Foxglove nuzzled my shoulder. "I don't know how you keep going, after everything that's happened, after everything that could have happened."

I took a deep breath. "Friends, love for my children, and hope." I pulled in a hissing breath through my teeth. "Lots...and lots...and lots of hope." I looked around the room, foals starting to hurry over, "Oh god...I'm gonna have to rent a hotel. Can you even do that? Rent an entire hotel?" I watched as the bright faced children started to surround me. "Guess we'll find out."

Cum

I sat back, half awake in my office chair. Wayne and the new foal Baux were sitting in my lap, a few other foals gathered around my legs. The foals from Transylmania were slowly easing in, Baux's wound healing nicely, the others slowly accepting the help I offered. The paperwork to head home to Vermont was slowly getting sorted, the passport photos fun as could be.

Exposing the foals to cameras was possibly the best introduction into technology they could have had, and oddly enough Feros had brought a human photographer back from Canterlot. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the man, Feros, even being a pony, was rather attractive. She was lean, her features sharp and her voice squeaky enough to be adorable but not enough to grate.

"Ben...." A tired voice cut the breathing of the foals. "Papers...." I looked up from Wayne's green head, finding Moon Light dumping a box onto my desk. "Nearly seventy passports...filed, checked out, record and bound in leather." She huffed, her white mane frazzled and loose. "Now...before you go, I think there's a matter we should discuss."

I nodded, "Just be quiet. Don't wake them." I pet Baux's ear, the blue maned filly covering her face with her hooves and snuggling against Wayne's belly. "Cute how they just hunt out warmth."

Moon scoffed, "Truly...but this really isn't a matter suitable for children." She tapped her hooves on the ground, "I think you--"

"About that night I promised you?" I asked in English, "Oh...sorry, about the--"

"Equestrian is fine...." Moon stated, "I know it's easier for you."

"Yeah...but the kids know English." I stated, rolling my neck, my hands wedged warmly between the foals.

Moon stared at me. "Equestrian."

"Same thing." I shot back, a bit of annoyance in my voice. "I mean honestly, not sure how it worked out, I mean Thestrali is a bit like Romanian, like noise wise. But it's odd that English and Equestrian converged so nicely."

Moon stared at me, defeated, and with a bit of tired sorrow behind her frown. "...Ben, please...I was up all night filing papers and I'd really like to spend that night with you. The last time I had sex was before your arrival, and I'm cold, tired, and would like to lay with something warm."

I looked down at my lap. "...Want some foals? They're pretty warm."

"Ben!" Moon shouted, "Please...just...polygamy is legal, so is extramarital copulation, and you promised me--"

I took a deep breath and reached around my desk. I found the buzzer I was looking for and leaned forward. "Harlem...can you get the sample over here?"

The small speaker box cut back in. "Office, left wing, right?"

"Yep."

"On my way." The perky courier shouted, leaving me sitting with Moon.

Moon looked around the office, flexing her wings a few times. "Sample?"

"Sperm sample." I clarified. I pulled my hands away from the foals, forced to tug my fingers out of Wayne's mouth. "I know what it's about, and as creepy as it is, I kinda like the idea."

Moon's face went sour, "...Ben...are you serious?" She propped herself up on my desk. "Perhaps it's a tie to the castle, yes, but it was also a bit of... I, you--it was earned, and you bit me, and you mounted me-- I'm owed a night!"

I stared at the bristling mare. "I'm married...and I'm going off my own laws now. Err, I'm rewriting the laws...."

"You can't just do that!" Moon shouted, leaning against the desk. "You made a parliament, you--"

"How long did that last?" I asked, thinking back to every session I sat through. "It's always each house arguing about where to spend money, and everyone stonewalling everyone else." I leaned back in my chair. "Except for the cow thing...beef is worth a little bit of sacrifice I guess."

"Damn the cows!" Moon shouted, clawing at her face with her hooves. "You can't just go back on your decisions like that!"

I shrugged, "Moon...I'm a count, in my county my word is law unless disputed by a duke or a king level person. Learn feudal infrastructure...bitch." I whispered my last word, sliding a raised middle finger into my hair. "...Wow that felt good."

Moon fell down the desk, her chin hitting the surface. "I was promised a night with you, and now that you're stronger than ever, more powerful, now that I might have had a chance instead of your wife...you say no."

"Whoa, what!?" I shouted, leaning far back in my chair. "You--"

"You're strong, you're...well, not exactly hansom--" Moon looked off to the side. "Human features haven't really grown on me, too thin and lanky."

"Ow, my pride." I grabbed my heart in jest. "But you're...Moon, what are you--"

"You know...I could have loved you." She stated, looking at her muzzle. "I wouldn't have tried to stab you in the back, I was honest with my attempt, and you prevailed. But no...you chose the lying, cheating animals that always win! They cheat, they fake, they claw their way into the castle each time! It's not fair Ben, it's not--"

I put my hands on her ears, holding them between my fingers. "...That's some really screwed up stuff you just told me." I rubbed her ears between my fingers, "But...I uh...." I looked around the room. "I love Foxglove, I mean, some times I can't tell you why, and there are times when I have to question it, but it's a gut reaction. She's sweet to the kids, she's given her body up for her family, even if they'd never really know her name past mommy. And yes, her real family, blood family, is rotten to the core, but so are all of you!"

"I'm not!" Moon shouted, shoving against the desk and looking towards me. "I was honest with you at every turn! Not once have I lied to you! Perhaps my truths were dangerous, perhaps you weren't in a state to make a good choice, but I was clear and truthful!" Moon shook her head, freeing her of my hands. "But you just...you--"

I pulled her onto the desk by her hooves, wrapping my hand around the back of her head and picking her up. I leaned forward, planting a heavy kiss against her lips.  It lasted only a short time before I broke away, pulling the mare against my shoulder and holding her head against my own. "I know." I pet her mane, rubbing her ears softly, "But it's not going to happen." I carefully picked her up, seating her on my desk. "I just need you to understand, it's not going to work. Now...are you going to be okay?"

Moon took a deep breath. "Am I not pretty? Do I sound odd?"

I frowned hard, "Moon, it's not about that. I made a promise to Foxglove, and I love that mare, I love her tone, her- maybe not all of her actions, but without her I wouldn't have met these foals, without her I wouldn't have been taken along for this ride, I would be sitting in Vermont, jerking off. For all the screwed up shit, the backstabbing, all of it, I'm...learning, growing from it." I turned to the passports, "But too much of this place is killing me, and I need a break. I want to go, leave this place for a time and enjoy some time with the mare I love, without her worrying about this place or about the stupid castle."

Moon lowered her head in defeat. "Love makes us do odd things, doesn't it?"

I took a deep breath. "It does. Now-" I carefully put the foals onto the desk before standing. I picked up Moon, dropping her in my place and slowly piling foals on her. "-relax."

Moon slowly settled into my chair. The foals returned to their tight knit balls on and around her, Wayne leaning chin up against her stomach. "Ben...I don't want this, I want you to--"

"Shh." I pet her head, "Relax."

Moon sat there, staring ahead. "Ben...I think I love you, or...I don't know. You leaving with notice hurts." She closed her eyes as I played with her ear. "When you left the first time, when you went to sleep for those months, it felt different, unavoidable, but this, it burns."

I leaned my head against her own. "Just a little too attached. Trust me when I say I'm not that special." I leaned back. "Did you want me to throw the sample away?"

Moon frowned hard. "...No, I'll take it." She carefully pawed at the foals. "Ben...if I come back to you, can you baby me?"

"Bab--"

"...I've seen...magazines...mares with pacifiers and--"

"Whoa- uh...." I looked away, Moon talking to me about things dangerously out of my league. "I'm not--"

"Please Ben...if not your mistress, then give me something." Moon whimpered, "I don't know why you do this to me, and I don't like it."

I turned away from her. "Gonna have to ammend those laws.... I slowly turned around to her. "Uh...so...about the night and all that, you can take it up with my wife...and if she doesn't bite your head completely off, I'll talk to her, and we'll see where it goes." I looked around my office, spotting a thick cotton blanket in the corner. "Until then, and until I come back, just relax." I swung the blanket around the ponies, making sure to cover them as much as I could without covering their heads. "Okay?"

Moon took a deep breath. "I don't know why it's bothering me so much.... Just, I don't like you leaving...not Transylmania, not me." She grew a bit red, "It didn't hit this bad until now...I don't like it."

I nodded, "I'm just leaving for a little while. Gonna leave you guys in charge while I'm gone, Pyrrhic's gonna sort out the laws, don't know about the rest but you'll figure it out."

Moon took a deeply shaken breath. "Ben, can you touch my ear again?" She lowered her head, "Or tuck me in...either way I need to feel you."

Chain

"Alright, tails around forelegs, let's go." I ushered my children into a long, extremely long, line. "Single file, come on." The foals were groggy, but the shouts of Foxglove repeating what I said in Thestrali kept them moving. "Come on kids, gonna go on a trip, gonna have fun." I yawned loudly, the dull morning light flooding in through the windows made me resent life, but it wasn't the worst. "Alright, here we go."

Foxglove let out a long yawn, "Ben why- oh... Ben, why are we doing this in the morning? Night...dawn, sometime with the sun out...." She mumbled, not completely awake. "I go to bed, ten seconds later I'm herding foals like a peasant's wife." She watched the foals wrap each of their tails around the foal behind them. "...This is...amazing."

I laughed softly. "You're so normal when don't sleep." I rubbed my eyes, bits falling off as I cleaned myself. "No take over the world on no sleep, right?"

Foxglove yawned again, "I apologized, quite a bit. I'm sorry Ben, but it's not about the--"

"The castle, the crazy murderers, the death, all that shite. I get it." I stretched my arms. "To be perfectly honest I'm just happy to be going back to Canterlot. Vermont is just the icing on the cake."

Foxglove lowered her head, starting to lay down. "That's nice...I'm going to--"

"Foxglove, come on." I clapped my hands together, startling the foals, the nurses, and my wife. The entry of the castle burbles softly as I hopped about. "Dinner on the train--"

"What the psychotic fuck is this!?" Pyrrhic yelled, stumbling into the castle, three other purple manes rolling in behind him. "Ben, why did you guards wake me up!?"

I watched the pony saunter over, his eye patch askew, his family dragging lazily behind him. "Oh, hey. I'm gonna get going, you ready to take over?"

He stared at me, glaring into my eyes. "Ben...what the fuck!?"

"Hey calm down, it's not a big deal!" I shouted, my voice starting to waver.

Pyrrhic's good eye popped wide open. "I will eat your heart--" I put my hand on his forehead to cut him off. "Sto--" I put my second hand on his ear, he locked up, trying to escape but finding me with my hands pressed against his face. "Why!?"

His relatives laughed softly, leaving me to continue petting the angry pony. "You guys really aren't morning people."

Pyrrhic finally calmed down, standing normally with my hand over his eye and on his ear. "You don't say.... Now move your hand before I bite it off!" I kept my hands on his ears. "... Why must you annoy me? Not a month ago were you worried of your immortal soul, now--"

"Because if I dwell on the past, I'm going to lose my shit." I clarified, finally letting go and turning to the foals. "Can't dwell on it, and really that's like holding a grudge on a dog for peeing on the floor."

Pyrrhic stared at me. "Did you just equate us to dogs?"

"Yes." I turned around, putting my hands on my hips. "Yes I did."

Pyrrhic took a deep breath, her voice quavering as he did. "You're not wrong. A bit more obsessed than dogs, but still quite idiotic at times."

I nodded. "It was- god damn it...why the bilingual shuffle!?" I shouted, falling to my knees. "Aurgh, why--"

Pyrrhic whistled. "I speak English."

"Oh thank go- wait...not Equestrian?" I asked, looking over to him.

He shook his head. "My wife called it English."

"Oh." I stuffed my hands in my pockets. "How is she?"

"Asleep."

I leaned back and forth on my heels, Foxglove walking next to me as the foals were sorted out by the maids. "Oh, hello Pyrrhic." She mumbled, her body still a bit jiggly, "Oh...I'm wearing...." She looked back at her flanks, her bra bright white against her dark grey coat.

Pyrrhic shook his head. "It's fine. And hello. Good, whatever this is."

"It's noon." I stated, looking out the windows. "High noon."

The ponies looked at me angrily, Foxglove finally tugged my leg. "Ben...just stop, no one is happy about this."

I stared at her. "Kill me then." I held my arms out, "You don't like it, shoot- hey!" I spotted one of my guards jokingly holding his arms up, mock holding a gun. "Who the hell hired these guys?"

Moon flopped down suddenly, the room jumping again as the mare hit the floor. "...I did."

I looked up towards the high stone roof. "Did you--"

"My mother was in heat, I didn't know where else to sleep." Moon mumbled, laying on floor with her eyes closed, white body half splattered against the stones. "My office is filled with papers and bits, my home is too loud, and the foals kept me up all morning."

Foxglove stared at the downed mare. "Ben, did you still want me to talk to her?" She asked, slowly leaning against my leg. "Ben...? Ben? Okay, new question, why are we doing this right now?"

I stretched my arms, watching my maids and guards slowly usher the foals out the front gate of the castle. "Because if we put all the foals in a train bright and awake, someone would fly out a window." I yawned softly, "Better they sleep on the train, otherwise yeah, bad times."

Foxglove stared at me, then to Moon. "I see your point, I still don't like it." She walked up to Moon, mounting her before plopping down. "I'll sort this out," she yawned, her voice peaking halfway through the exaggerated yawn. "Ah- Pyrrhic...you're going to let the others rule under you aren't you?"

Pyrrhic rolled his head, leaning back slightly afterwards. "Admittedly there are others more qualified--"

"Not Bian--"

"Oh gods, do you think I'm stupid?!" Pyrrhic snapped, leaning forward. "Do you think us stupid!?"

The ponies went on bickering, families coming into play while Moon lingered on the edge of consciousness. I left them to their fighting, focusing on the foals. "Someone get me a clipboard, and a list, or two." I watched the foals march by, Wayne breaking the chain of tails and wandering towards me. "Wayne no- no no no--" He marched up to my boots, leaning his head against my shin before flopping down against my toes. "Asses." I watched as the line after him gave way, foals tumbling forward a line of multicolored manes and tails leading back into the hall. "Man down, someone get me a sack or something!"

I spotted Pyrrhic walking up to me. "Why are you laughing?" He asked, his tail whipping about. "Your wife, she is enraging, now why are you laughing!?" He demanded, leaning his head forward and to the side. "You broke a mare's legs, you were nearly killed, you woke us up, the sun is still out! Now stop laughing!" He shouted, wobbling back and forth. "Why is your family so obnoxious!? You waver like a madman, sad to happy to sad--"

"Because being forcefully happy is what keeps me alive." I stated, staring at the sleep deprived stallion. "Now can you take care of this place while I'm gone or not?"

Pyrrhic stared at me, shifting left and right, his left side seemingly heavier than the rest of him. "I don't see why you couldn't have just sent me a letter. Transylmania went longer without a count--"

"And look how that turned out." I stated, crossing my arms. "A bunch of medieval murderers, meanwhile I'm standing here with a broken I-phone."

Pyrrhic just stared at me, half angry, half bitter, all purple. "Where is the coffee?"

"Kitchen, down that hall-" I pointed towards the right way, a rather large hallway near the back of the entry. "-it's already brewed."

Pyrrhic started to lumber past. "Fine, I'll play count. You enjoy your irresponsible--"

"Don't start with me about responsibilities!" I shouted, unable to move with Wayne on my toes. "God damn, you're really not a morning person--"

"No shit!" He yelled, losing his balance and slamming his head into the wall, leaning against it to stay upright. "Loud noises! Aaaaaah."

I felt my ears start to hurt as he yelled, the foals slowly coming to from the floor bound state. "You're a grown man, knock it off--"

"Aaaaah!"

Train

I sat among my children, flipping through a checklist as they hurried inside. "...Ben...Cream...Cork...Cormey...these aren't in order." I chuckled, watching Moon filter in with the foals. "And you're not even on the list!"

Moon kept her head down, hail in chain with Foxglove. Foxglove looked over to me, foals attached to her tail. "I'll explain--"

"She's going to be my mistress...isn't she?" I asked, slowly resolving myself to at least a few of Transylmania's backwards cultural ideas. "...Great--"

"She's my mistress too." She stated, leaving the chain and carefully flying herself onto my chest, laying across me and joining the pile of foals. "It's--"

"So it's polygamy? Makes sense...." I stated, continuing to make sure the foals were in. "Holy crap, so...I didn't realize how many we'd picked up." I looked at the guards at the entrance of the train, "All the foals are walking now too, right?"

Foxglove let out a long sigh. "Walking, flying, they're growing up." She slowly sank in against my lap, the foals adjusting around her. Castor had claimed her place under my Chin, Wayne taking my hand in his mouth as he slept in the crook of my arm. Baux was laying atop Wayne, her teeth sunken into his ear. "...Look at that." Foxglove poked Baux's ear, causing her to twitch. "That's cute, she's got a crush."

I cocked an eyebrow. "Does he?"

Foxglove turned to me with a grimace. "Her, not him. Bauxite. Wayne doesn't know, Wayne still craps himself...." She looked back to me, bags under her eyes. "Did you--"

"I know, but he likes her too." I shifted my arm, lowering Wayne and Baux deeper into my shoulder. "How old is she?"

Foxglove wrapped her tail around the two. "Not much older, she's four? I think she's four, to be honest it's hard to tell with half the orphans."

I frowned hard, passing my checklist off to a guard. "Ear healed up nice. I tried to move my hand to Baux's ear, quickly reeled back in by Wayne's budding teeth. "Teeth are coming in...sharp."

Foxglove sighed loudly, her plump stomach warm against the spot where my shirt rode up the front. "I'm looking forward to, wherever we're going."

"Vermont." I stated, settling back with a load of foals getting hung from rails on the roof or against each other. I was the biggest one in the pile, but smaller clumps of life were forming up around the older foals. One of my human guards looked around quickly. "Yo...you're sketchy as hell, what's wrong with you?"

The guard turned to me, her fangs showing as she smiled nervously. "Um...can you move?"

I felt my eyes pop open wide at the question. "What the hell does that mean?!"

The guard jammed her hand into her back pocket, the dark navy uniform loudly distorting. "I'm gonna guess no." She pulled a bright white camera around, taking a few pictures of me and my children. "I'll send you a few copies."

"Oh god damn it...." I grumbled so softly only I could hear. The guard walked around the ornate train car, snapping pictures of the foals as they hung from their strange sleeping posts or curled up. Most chose the ground, but others preferring the cold clean air hung from their tails. The guard was attentive, only snapping pictures and not using the flash. She watched each step, making sure to avoid the foals as they slumped forward and slept. "Seriously?"

The guard ignored me, a content smile on her face. "Totally." She continued to take a few pictures. "Besides, we can use this in publicity. Gotta think smart--" The guard nearly jumped out of her skin as the chain of foals collided with her shins.  "Oh god no--" She flung her arms out, catching on a cabinate and sliding down into a bare spot of train. "Oh pleas--" She was shut up as the conga line overtook her lap, curling around her and overtaking her lower half in grey and multicolored manes. "Arugh!" She held her hand up, reenacting the scene from terminator two.

"Wow...that reference, no one is going to get it." I luaghed, looking over to the other guard. "You get--"

He cleared his throat, choosing to speak in Thestrali. "I don't speak English very well."

I stared at him, switching languages to accommodate. "You learned Thestrali before you learned English?"

"I live in Transylmania, why would I learn English?"

I felt a strange sense of pride well up in my stomach. "Huh...So where you--"

"Un-gary. Hungary."

I stared at him. "Then how- god damn this language shuffle crap!" I looked around, making sure none of the foals was in danger. "How did you end up here then?"

The guard finished up with the clipboard, scooting one of my kids into the train with the side of his toe. "I came to get away from the war, they told me this place had work, I found a wife and settled down."

I bit my tongue. "What color? Because the man--"

"Human." He stated, stepping back out of the train. "You should take a look around your city when you get back, it's quite a bit different than when I arrived."

I watched the man disappear behind the door, leaving me among the foals and the kidnapped guard. "Human on human in Equestria...." I stared angrily at the door to the engine. "... Why does that bug me?"

Moon pushed up, a foal latched onto her shoulder. "Because you have a fetish for Equestrians. More accurately you have a fetish for bat ponies.... You pervert." She quickly slumped back down, burned out and the only source of white on a multicolored pile of hair.

I looked around the room, stuffed full of sleeping ponies, myself the only one with a night's rest. "I know they don't know what you're saying, but still." I looked down to Scotch, blue mane tangled up in my fingers as he pet himself with my hand. I looked down at Foxglove and Castor, white and grey mixing at my chin as the two slept. I looked down at all the ponies, and my guard.

I felt warm, like I'd accomplished something. And being on the train gave me a chance to fantizise saving a room full of foals from living in some dungeon. "Choo choo...next stop, someplace with computer--"

Moon shoved up again. "I have a computer!"

"Choo choo, next stop someplace without murdering politicians."

Moon Light just stood there, propped up on her forelegs. "... Next stop, boring."

Canterlot

I rose out of my pile of children, Wayne and Baux tucked against my arm. "Alright...good to go." I mumbled, scratching my head as I walked towards the door with my children in my arms. Wayne and his little friend slowly came to, the others and Foxglove taking my place and nestling against where I was. "They seek the warmth...always." I mumbled, only marginally awake.

I checked out the window, brushing a foal's ear as I peeked outside. We were already in Canterlot, a pair of night guards were waiting on the freshly rebuild platform. "Daddy...." Wayne hissed, sinking his teeth into my arm once again. He smiled wide, nestling in and adjusting his bite. I let out a soft groan, his bites not painful, but still itchy.

"You're a little monster." I pulled the door open, stepping out into the warming spring dusk. The two guards turned to me with a pair of loud steps. "Oh, hi." I looked back at the train. "Can you make sure they all get to the embassy?"

The guards stared at me, nodding twice in unison. "That's why we're here. Luna's finest."

I glared at the pair. "Man...screw Luna." I turned to the path off the platform. "Those thousand years didn't really serve her well."

One of the guards coughed softly. "She's...trying--"

"Not hard enough man!" I shouted, walking up a set of stairs and onto a bridge that connected the platforms to the road. "Seriously-" I leaned over the railing. "-she sent me, a babysitter, to a medieval province full of murderers. No warning, no hey, maybe bring a baton and lay down the law real quick. No, I got, you're count, have fun!" I turned back to the path. "Ugh, I guess someone had to do it. Not bitter or anything."

Baux looked up at me. "You seem a bit bitter--"

"You're like four, don't talk to me about bitter!" I picked her up and put her on my head. "Kid, you don't even know bitter, you're four!"

Baux settled in against my crown, the filly a bit plump. "I--"

"Baux, look around." I commanded her, taking the steps down towards the main station and road. "Ever been outside of Transylmania?"

Baux locked up, her tail reaching down to the back of my neck. "Big...." She mumbled, her forelegs digging against my forehead as I carried my foals towards the road. I got a few strange looks from the ponies waiting for the train, but nothing too violent. It seemed more annoyed at my bringing children onto a train platform instead of their being bat ponies.

It felt good to be in a well lit, warm city. I could feel myself relaxing, no longer feeling the constant threat of death looming over me like a ghastly pendulum. I held Baux against my head, keeping Wayne tucked up in my arm and chewing on me. "Baux, you want to see where I lived?"

Baux looked around, her mane whipping around and smacking my ear. "Warm...."

I chuckled softly. "Let's go see if my brother in law is still there. They were supposed to be watching the place." I felt so good, my heart was light, my body felt warm from the dying sun, and everything felt easier.

I wasn't the count, I wasn't important, I was some guy with his kids walking down the street. I was so happy, my entire body up and active as I soaked up what light I could. There were street lamps and carts, guard ponies and a constant bustle that Transylmania never had. I had no responsibility past my children, and I could finally go home, my apartment, my house, all of it was waiting for me.

I hurried down the usual streets, towering above the ponies, feeling strong and in charge of my life for the first time in three months. "Been away too long." I walked down the side streets, heading towards my home. The buildings felt familiar, bright in the orange light of dusk. My entire being was calm, my muscles were relaxed, even my blood felt warm.

I walked down my street, a loud sawing noise catching my attention. "Whoa, is som- holy shit." I stopped dead in the middle of my dozy street. "What-The-Fuck?" My house was gone, a massive timber frame taking up the lot where it once stood. "Wayne, never talk like this, you too Baux. But what the scrambled hell happened?"

I walked towards the framework, watching ponies in hardhats go to work setting them in place. The first floor was almost done, but the rest was still frames and shingles. "Oh god, what--"

"Hello Ben." A familiar and terrifying voice came from my right. I turned slowly, finding Pursa standing before me. "This, this is the work of my son I'm afraid."

I stared at the red headed mare. "Um...How are you standing? How are you here? What the hell happened to my house?"

Pursa took a deep breath. She turned to the side, showing off a pair of metal frame prosthetic attached. They were amazing, something out of a scifi movie. Metal tubes and false hooves reaching down from her hips. They moved like real pony legs, stretched out like real legs. "Impressive, yes?"

I realized my mouth was hanging open and promptly closed it. "Uh, yes? What exactly--"

"A company was working on these, I was found, offered to be a test subject." She turned back around, stomping her back legs. "And Ben, I'm truly sorry for what I did." She bowed her head, a sour expression on her face. "I don't blame you for what you did. I simply wish to move past and--"

I looked past her at the ponies rebuilding my house. "In all fairness, I was just going to banish you. Foxglove came up with the crippling thing."

Prusa looked at up at me, a strangely accepting. "Of course." She flattened her ears out and let out a salty groan. "She's my daughter. And you're...I didn't think it was your idea from the start." She walked beside me, rearing up and reaching to peek at Wayne. "Poisoned or not, the one who raised this wouldn't conceive that order."

I let out a long sigh and ducked down. "You know it hurt me right? I've forgiven a lot, and I get it. But you did hurt me." My stomach churned slightly as Pursa played with Wayne. "Being cutthroat isn't really a good excuse, for the record."

Pursa looked up at me with a slight frown. "Is it not? I've heard about your laws. I really would have thought you'd have set something like that in motion upon arrival instead of waiting until the fourth assassination attempt."

I felt my face draw up into a heavy frown. "...I don't- I don't know, nor do I want to know what you're taking about. Don't ruin my vacation for me, please...."

Pursa frowned at me again. "I wasn't planning to. I was banished, I have about as much say in the politics of Transylmania as a piece of oat cake."

I sighed loudly. "Honestly that might be for the best."

"I'm inclined to agree with you. To be honest since- and might I just say, I'm not absolving you of crippling me, but given the circumstances I believe we've taken an eye for an eye." Pursa rested her chin on Wayne's head. "Oh, yes, I was going to say. Since I've left, I've been part of a project to save many ponies like myself, watched my child raise two extremely strange children, and moved from, what is honestly an extremely violent place, to Canterlot." She smiled at me. "And, English has been learned modestly."

"Oh, nice." I chuckled nervously. "Yeah, that place is...vitriol."

Pursa cocked her head. "What?"

"Bad."

"Ah, yes." She looked towards Canterlot Castle. "Another world compared to here, I think." She sighed loudly. "A shame it's what we have. The weather here is much nicer."

"It is." I stood up, looking towards my house. "So, what happened?"

Pursa looked towards the house. "Oh...that. Dov, out here now!" She shouted at an adjacent house. After a loud bustle a pale looking unicorn ran out with a large egg tucked in her saddle bag.

"Dov is busy, what did you need?" She asked with a clear English accent. "Oh, who is this?"

Pursa stepped between the mare and I. "Ben, this is Marcy. She's the one who helped me with my legs."

I frowned hard. "Do you have to keep bringing that up? I'm serious...it wasn't my idea. Foxglove said they'd listen to me more if I put my foot down."

Marcy frowned hard. "Oh, that ordeal. I'm not about to pass judgment on events I had no hoof in." She walked up to me bowing slightly. "A pleasure to meet you."

I took a deep breath, carefully balancing Baux on my head and reaching down to meet her hoof. "Ben Wesk, freelance babysitter and Count."

Marcy pulled her hoof back. "Well that's an interesting title." She looked me up and down. "Which is more important to you?"

I looked up at Baux's blue mane hanging around the edge of my vision. "The one I carry around with me."

Marcy smiled wide. "Cute. Oh, you're wondering about the house." She swung herself around. "Same place these came from oddly enough." She thrust her flank out. "Your...nephew? I think that's how it goes? Niece, to be honest we're not actually sure yet."

I felt my mouth hang open again, a dryness taking refuge in my maw. "Uh, egg. Egg. What? And you're not- but the teeth--"

"Thestral, not a bat, yes." She lowered her head, showing off her horn. "I was nocturnal anyways, this ordeal just made it official."

I took a deep breath. "And the eggs?"

"Dragon." She stated, looking towards the house. "Or rather kirin. Seems Dov dipped himself into some rather bestial girls."

I stared at her, not sure if she was screwing with me or not. I looked back to Pursa, her legs reminding me of the world I was in. "Kids, Wayne, Baux, dragon plus pony makes a baby." I started to laugh. "Oh god, this place is so weird, like, so, so so weird."

Marcy looked me up and down. "You, a human named count of bat pony lands, are calling this strange?"

"I never said I wasn't!" I clarified, starting to laugh again. "Oh god...I don't know what to do with this information." I grabbed my head. "Is there--"

Marcy smiled at me. "Yes, of course there are more. Dragon hybrids, human hybrids, griffon hybrids. Your brother was quite prolific."

I swallowed hard. "Oh Jesus, what?"

"I'm taking care of it though." Marcy smiled at me. "You don't run a company without dealing with a few unexpected pregnancies."

I pulled Baux off my head and quickly pushed the foals onto Pursa. "Hold these." I turned to Marcy with two marching steps and glared down at her. "You--"

"Yes?" She asked, with a smile of course. "How can I help?"

I snapped down, grabbing her and pulling her into the tightest possible hug I could muster. "EEeeerhmygod," I squeezed her tight, burying my head against her neck. "How do I give you more money?!"

Marcy shook herself free, sliding down to the floor. "Um, you want to fund me?"

I looked around, the egg, the mare with the robot legs, me. "I will give you everything I can find, just...things cannot get normal again, we can only go deeper."

She laughed softly. "I'm not the one who encouraged him to spread his seed around--"

"Are you two married? Because you've--"

"Oh Luna no!" She jumped back. "No. I'm helping in exchange for- well...to put it bluntly I cut his foreleg off." She smiled nervously. "They said I had a problem, then I did it. Machines met skin and I bucking did it!"

I rubbed my face as Pursa struggled to keep the foals away from her legs. "So he gave up a leg for help raising kids?"

"More or less." Marcy stated, still smiling. "And for science, so you know, good cause."

I clapped my hands together. "I really don't have anything to say to that." I turned to Pursa, plucking my foals off her and turning to the mares. "This has been an absolutely insane visit. Now, I'm going to go back to Earth, and pray to god I can escape this crazy shit for at least two hours." I turned to the road. "I'm losing my damn mind little by little."

MINI: I Know You!

I walked down the street, my foals tucked in each of my arms. "Baux...so, you don't mind me carrying you anymore?"

She nestled back into my arm. "...No."

"Liar." I jeered, leaning down to her. "You cried the first time I picked you up." I stared at her, making sure to look up every so often to keep from bashing myself on a pole. "Well?"

Baux pulled off a rather harsh pout. "...You hurt me."

"I cleaned that ear." I stated, poking her with my nose. "I'm just glad to see you don't hate me." I felt something strange on my shoulder. I stopped dead, peeking to the side and finding a pale man peeking up at me. "Uh, can I help you?"

The man looked me up and down, forcibly turning me to face him. "...Ben Wesk?" He asked, holding me by my arms. "That's you right?"

"Uh, how do you know my name?" I asked, feeling a deep discomfort in the seat of my pants. "Can I help you?"

The man leaned his head down and took a deep breath. "I fucking missed you man." He pulled me tight against him, forcing my foals against my chest as he hugged me. "God damn, I fucking missed you man." He pulled me tight against him, tucking my head against his shoulder. "...I'm so happy you're alive."

I tired to push back, the man letting me go without a fight. "Uh, that's...great, now who are you?"

The man sighed extremely loudly. "Dude...it's not even worth explaining. I know you, you helped me out a long time ago, I watched you get shot in the head, and now you're here." He stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I know I sound crazy, but we knew each other in a different world, just...meeting you here is--"

"That's actually not that crazy." I stated, looking the scratchy looking man over. "You haven't seen the other shit I've dealt with today. You saying that, I'd totally believe it."

The man looked me dead in the eyes. "You believe me when I said I saw you get shot in the head? Like, you believe me when I say we were in a war together in a different universe?"

I tucked my foals against my and raised my hands up. "Dude, it really wouldn't surprise me if you were speaking the truth right now."

The man groaned softly. "Equestria is screwed up, right?"

"Very. Very, very, very, screwed up." I hoisted my foals up, stretching my arms and leaving them cooling like fresh bread. "I saw a mare with robot legs today."

"I had my head cut off a while ago." The man stated.

"I was named Count of a medieval city."

The man chuckled softly. "I was torn from my universe to sit around here for a while."

I started to laugh too, left with no reason to doubt him over the other facts I've seen today. "I have nearly one-hundred-fifty children."

"I'm married to a princess...." He stated, sounding rather disappointed. "I know I don't sound too happy, it's just been a long week."

I nodded. "My wife's family tried to kill me, so I know the feeling."

"Yeah...and everyone thinks I'm an asshole." The man crossed his arms. "I guess I am."

I looked down at my foals. "Is he a jerk?" I asked in thestrali.

Wayne pulled off my arm, staring at the man. "Yellow!"

Baux looked at him too. "That's not yellow, that's brown."

"Yellow!" Wayne hissed again.

The man grabbed his head. "It's brown."

"Yellow!" Wayne stated, defiant as ever. "You, yellow!"

The man just wore a sour frown. "I swear to god, don't yell Able, don't yell. It's a kid, don't yell."

"Yellow!" Wayne shouted again, leaning out of my arms towards the man. "Yellow yellow yellow."

The man stared at Wayne, his lips pressed together achingly hard. "So...I'm gonna go before I say something I'll regret." He turned to the road. "Name is Able, in case it wasn't obvious."

I pulled Wayne back against me. "How would it be obvious?"

Able turned around and threw his hands up. "The war thing? I guess memories don't extend past the fucking fabric of reality."

"Now that's crazy." I stated, turning towards the road home. "Well that was odd."

"Yellow!" Wayne shouted, his extremely raspy voice starting to bug me too.

"Alright Wayne--"

"Yellow!"

"Wayne!" I shouted, "stop it!"

Baux climbed over my arms, leaning against Wayne's head and biting his ear. "Shhh" She hissed, leaning against him and chewing on his ear. "No yellow."

I stared down at the couple of foals. "Aw...the future generations of Equestria will be beautiful."

Vermont

"Holy shit!" a TSA agent yelped, jumping back. "Uh...uh...need...assistance."

I stepped out of the plane bridge and onto the terminal floor. "Oh boy...you have no, fucking, idea." I looked back, watching Moon bolt out of the bridge towards me. "Moon--"

"They're coming!" Moon ran past, spinning around and landing flank first against the agent's knees. "Incoming!"

The airport security grew tense as the plane bridge rumbled. "Um...is this gonna be a bomb or so--"

"Worse." I stated, watching Foxglove try to outrun the flood, her pregnant belly too swollen and blocking her legs from running. "Oh shit." I stepped to the side, watching the miniature stampede rush out of the plane. The multicolored horde stormed out, kept in a blob by the abundance of frazzled Burlington TSA agents. "They come." I started to laugh, watching as the foals stopped and turned to me. "They come!"

An agent walked slowly over to me. "Um...sir.... I think you're going to have to go through security again."

I turned to the fat guard. "...Oh god, I forgot how fat people were." I shook my head. "And yeah, no shit." I turned to my herd, nearly ninety strong. "Now, you gonna help me or not?"

The tubby woman shifted herself back. "I don't...know...how."

I rubbed my face. "And I thought the Equestrian border was bad." I stepped out before my children. "Kids, two rows, line up! First row in line gets ice cream!"

In a flash the foals, hopping over one another and scurrying around the airport, lined up perfectly. I smiled as Wayne, always the little asshole, stepped forward and latched onto my Ankle. "...Wayne...you're a pisser."

Moon snaked herself around my leg. "I'm sorry...but you planned to do this with Foxglove? Alone?"

I shrugged. "I'm handling it alright."

Moon Light rubbed her snowy head. "Oh by the gods...this is technically mine now too, isn't it?"

"Your problem? Oh yeah, the- right.... Awesome." I smiled as the foals lined up. I turned to face the TSA agents. "I'm the god damn Piper." I started walking towards the security, my foals slowly chugging along behind me. "Moon, can you get through this and find a market or something?"

Moon Light watched as I lead my kids towards the bewildered agents. "First thing after arriving in another world, you want me to head out on my own?"

I walked slowly, guided along by the security like the bunch of petty authority figures they were. "It's Vermont...it's not like New York." I kept the foals moving on, ignroing their petty bickering as they tried to form up a proper line. "Besides, do you want to handle this instead?"

An agent walked up to me, one of the less atrociously fat ones. "Did you want help?"

"I got it!" One of my guards ran out of the plane. "Sorry, sorry, the other passengers started yelling at me!" She bolted over, pistol jangling against her side. "I--"

"Gun!" An agent shouted.

My guard backed up. "Wait, I have a permit! I'm a guards-woman! Wait!"

I lowered my head, rubbing my forehead. "I should have just taken a boat...or car. Bus." I sighed loudly as a siren went off in the distance. "God, damn, airports."

Letters

I let out a warm groan as I leaned back, watching the green trees fling by from the bus window. "Amanda...how far?" I asked, leaning against the window. My guard had figured herself out after talking with the security, her gun was confiscated but she was still in my service. "Amanda--"

"I don't know!" She yelped, trying to turn onto a small street. "This is the first time I've even driven a bus!" She looked horrid, arms hung up around the strangely tilted steering wheel. "Oh god...I think we're on the right road."

I turned towards the aisle, Foxglove and Moon sitting quietly, trying to ignore one another. "So...you two are.... What's the deal?" I asked, shifting and moving my legs over a scrambling set of fillies. "I mean like, I know Foxglove is technically a widow remarried, but what's going on with all this?" I waggled my hand at myself and the mares. "Because I think--"

Foxglove let out a short huff. "She's my wife, she's your wife." she turned to me with a soft frown on her lips. "We're married, and she's married to us, each individually."

I rubbed my face. "This is like some old law, isn't--"

Moon pulled her mane back, out of her face. "To ensure healthy amount of succesors, laws were enacted to replace concubinage and Saddle Arabian Harems with marriage connections." She bit her lower lip. "I'm technically not even Moon Light any more."

Foxglove nodded as well. "We're technically Wesks, as are any natural children, or any of these children that will keep your name." She rubbed her chin with a hoof, causing it to roll over her soft coat rather roughly. "I never did understand day dwelling ponies' last names. They seem so random, like the commoners."

I frowned hard. "That's mean. You say commoners like it's a bad thing."

Foxglove shook her head and carefully slid off her seat. "Ben, all I'm saying is be glad you came to the noble houses first. Otherwise you'd be some mare's plaything, or in a productive marriage with about ten other mares, all trying to get that noble name as well."

I stuck my hand out, brushing Foxglove's warm back as she walked along the slow moving bus. "This is why I left. Modern men and women weren't meant to deal with early medieval shit."

Moon nodded, following Foxglove but instead taking a detour onto the seat next to me. "Be glad you're here now. Fifty years ago succession was still gavelkind. Each of your foals would have had a claim to a square acre."

I felt a coldness shoot through my body. "...Is there like a book I can consult? I really need to know every little law, and abolish them. Because seriously, this is just so fucking convoluted and messed up!"

Moon coughed softly, putting a hoof on my knee. "It's alright if I touch you now, yes?"

I stared at the once fiery mare, her form bunched up and tired. "What's wrong with you? When we met you literally attacked me, nearly kicked me in the head."

Moon withdrew her hoof. "Time...not having to work hoof to mouth. A bit of respect, and really I think most of us are just glad you're alive after what happened." She sat down, slumped forward. Her white mane covered up her grey blue eyes. "Fires have been tempered, you can see it across the county. Even Pyrrhic has his little woman friend, he's not screwing every mare in the city. The Dusk whores are actually involving themselves in other forms of art and entertainment besides hooking. I could do what my house was meant to do, we have money, we have--"

I cut her off, grabbing her hoof and planting it on my crotch. "I get it, knock it off." I hung my hand over her neck, pulling her against me. "Seriously, relax."

Moon melted against my side. "This is me relaxed.... Do you want to see me tense again?" She poked my groin with the sharpest bit of her hoof. "Push me."

I caught myself, pulling my leg up as a foal skidded around under my chair. "All I'm saying is, you're changing. Foxglove changed, like...a lot, then...we're kinda back to what we were doing in Canterlot, she's calm again, it's nice. But you, I mean, it's just different."

Amanda looked back at us. "Uh this is it right? I think this is the right address."

I squeezed Moon against me and stood up. "Uh, yeah! That's it--"

Amanda leaned to the right. "Holy crap...how big is this wall?"

I scratched my head. "Uh, like, two-hundred acres?" I mumbled, starting to rub my chin. "It's all undeveloped and junk my grandpa bought way back."

My guard slowly turned around, an annoyed look on her face. "Really? Like, you serious?"

I shrugged. "It's not my land! It's family land!"

"Then it is your land!" Moon shouted over a loud whirl in the back of the bus. "Look up the laws!"

"Vermont!" I shouted back, "Not mine, family, my dad's, my mom's, my family--"

"We're technically your family!" she shouted again, her raspy voice starting to grate. "Honestly...accept it, you're a privileged person despite the murder plots."

I laughed loudly. "I never said I wasn't! I only said dealing with a town full of homicidal nutcases is hard." I hung my hand, letting Moon slid under my fingers as she stepped towards the front of the bus. "Don't act like it's not."

Moon shook her head. "I'm not, I--"

A heavy thud on the roof snapped us out of our chat. "What the fuck?" I asked, ducking down. "Why!?"

A peach pegasus with a brown pair of shorts hopped down from the top of the bus and started tapping on the door. "Ben Wesk?"

I forced the doors open, reaching across Amanda's lap to undo the lock. "Uh...UPS?" I asked, recognizing the mare's uniform. "This- wait, I have mail?"

The mare nodded. "Emergency letter from Canterlot, signatures like crazy, really looks like they rushed this out." The mare pulled a wax covered letter from her bags and handed it to me, never actually stepping into the bus. "I'm supposed to wait for you to send something back, so if you could read--"

I ripped the wax seals off and flipped the crude letter open. "What the hell? Ben, there was a peasant revolt, a military coup, and I'm being held in the dungeon until you return. Signed, Pyrrhic Av Crag." Along the bottom of the letter were a bunch of other signatures, Feros, a few Bian, Hurk Light, and a strange one. "Um...does anyone here know someone named Clark?" I looked around the bus, getting blank stares from my mates and my guard. "No? I- wait...a coup and a revolt?! What the hell, I leave for five minutes! This didn't happen when Foxglove was there!"

Foxglove lumbered through the crowd of bouncing foals, nearly getting dragged down as they latched onto her. "Wait, what happened?" She asked, her husky voice just a bit tired. "Coup?"

I crumpled the letter in my fist. "God damn it! I just- I try to leave, I try to die, and it just keeps pulling me back in!" I stepped out of the bus, onto the damp asphalt road. I looked around the bustling night time woods I'd grown up in, trees full of night dwelling birds, my eyes pulling in light from the glittering moon and showing me worlds I'd never seen before. "God damn it...." I turned back to the door of the bus. "You guys, head on in, I'm gonna go take care of this and I'll be back by New Years."

Moon and Foxglove both leaned out of the bus, looking past me at my family as they started to walk through the driveway. "Um...Ben, it's February."

I frowned hard. "...That makes me sad." My gut grumbled softly as the metal gate to my family's land slowly creaked open. I turned around, quickly waving to my blood family. "Uh...hey mom, hey dad." They both nodded and said their hellos. "Uh I gotta go use your phone, is it alright if everyone stays here for a while?"

My mother cheered softly and walked past me and onto the bus. My dad walked up to me and looked me in the eyes. "Ben, you're a grown man. You can't just dump off your family on us."

"I wasn't going to!" I held my arms out. "I told you I was visiting, I told you who I was bringing!"

My dad nodded past me, at Foxglove and Moon, who softly waved their hooves. "True, but you can't just leave right after--"

"They're about to kill my employees and burn down my city! I kind of need to go fix this!" I pointed to the road. "...Transylmania, I mean. Not the road."

My dad rubbed his eyes. "I know Ben, I'm old, not stupid."

I let out a long huff. "It's been a long day alright. Now I gotta go get a taxi and save some pony ass."

My dad shook his head even harder. "Phrasing, son, phrasing."

"I know what I said! God, after everything I've done for those shlubs, fixed the roads, fixed the houses, installed all those public restrooms, one would think they could keep from overthrowing the government while I'm going to relax!"

My dad just stared at me, unblinking. "Should have been a history teacher."

I stared back at him, my stomach rumbling loudly. "I'm just gonna go use your phone--" Wayne hopped onto my back, no doubt flying from a window or the open door. "So is he I guess--"

"Yes!"

Huge

I stepped through the portal back to Equestria. "God damn- fuckin- come on!" I yanked a cheap college hoodie over my head, hurrying to change back into street clothes as fast as I could. "Someone, Transylmania--"

"Sir!" A sharp snappy voice shot out from the doorway into the embassy. "At your service!"

I pushed my head through the hoodie and spotted a strange looking earth pony in a guard helmet. "...Oh no, you didn't--"

"Happily changed to serve--"

"No!" I shouted, rushing up to him and falling to my knees before him. "No! Stop changing yourselves! I'm not worth it! It's not worth it!"

The pony pulled back, sliding his soft coat out of my fingers. "Uh, sir, I was born like this." The guard shook himself hard, twisting his entire being left and right. "Not everypony who's born half thestral decided to change...sir."

I felt myself sink slightly. "Ugh, long day...I'm sorry." I walked past him, into the soft beige walls of the embassy. "Vacation interrupted by all this, I'm not exactly in the right sorts, right...now." I quickly realized how clunky my words were. "Let's just go--"

"I'm coming!" A sharp, raspy voice came from the portal room, leading up until Moon bolted past the guards and over to me. "Wait!"

I kept walking, all I changed was I put my hands back, like a reverse quarterback waiting for a hike. "So, how-" I felt a heavy thud on my back as Moon's hooves wrapped around my neck, "-we getting to Transylmania?"

The earth bound guard continued to walk ahead of me, reminding me of the Regan attempt. "Chariot."

I stopped, lurching forward slightly with the extra weight on my back. "Flying, chariot?"

Moon leaned over my shoulder. "As most chariots are."

I groaned loudly, shakily. "Of course... because today just wants to shit on me." I sighed loudly, making a few office workers snicker as I passed into the plain DMV like lobby. "I think I'll take a nap on the way there, make this less terrifying."

Moon shifted around my back, settling in with a soft thump. "Ben, are you--"

"Yes. To whatever you're going to say, yes."

Moon bopped me in the side of the head with a hoof. "So you would like to have a dirty three-way with the carriage drivers! No...are you afraid?"

I shivered hard as I stepped out into the thawing Canterlot, spotting one of Luna's chariots waiting with guards ready to go. "Of flying? Uh, yes, yes I am. Heights, not so much, but flying free in the air, not in a plane, terrifying." I clenched my fingers around Moon's flanks as the guard plopped down by the rider's seat. "I always feel like I'm going to fly the hell out or slip or something."

Moon shimmied down my back, landing with a soft clop. "Really? Well, true, if you fell there would be little we could do, but still." She shanked her white body around the edge of the chariot and into the back. "Now come, we should make sure the town isn't on fire."

I groaned like a hurt animal as I set my hand on the cold metal railing. "Part of me kind of wants it to burn down. Certainly make me feel better."

Moon whinnied loudly. "Oh stop complaining. They're still your subjects."

"Are they!? They don't seem to listen to me!" I stepped onto the creaking metal death-trap. "Now- Jesus!" I grabbed on tight as the driver's took off, lurching down the road for a bit before taking to the air. "I hate- hate!" I felt my stomach press against my intestines as we took off towards the north-east. "Could have taken a train damn it!"

Moon leaned her hooves against the top of the railing, watching the massive expanse of Equestria zoom slowly by. "Hmm, it really is big, isn't it?"

I stared unblinkingly at the ground. "The drop? Yeah, that's why--"

Moon bopped me over the head again, starting to fall back into her violent ways. But, there was a certain comfort in her hooves, something primal. The slap was hard enough to ache, but not enough to pain, it gave off a soft feeling of sympathy, warmth buried in the act. "I mean't Equestria. It's really rather massive from up here."

I pulled breath through my teeth. "They said something like, two-to-three times earth? So, yeah, it's god damn huge. Big god damn planet." I took a deep breath. "Just not dense, or something, ask a geologist, or an astronomer!"

Moon huffed softly. "Ben, are you actually comfortable with me?" She looked up at me, icy eyes distracting me from the death fall below. "In--"

"Not the time. Please, just...not right now." I slid my hands around her, pulling her against me and leaning down against the railing. "Don't ask me about relationship issues when I'm ninety feet in the air!" I hugged her against me, the empty feeling in my stomach assuaged by the pony at my side. "Seriously, it can wait the six horrid minutes!"

Moon slid herself against me. "Ben, I'm glad I came--"

"Seriously, not the--"

"Heat doesn't pick good times.... I'll take care of it, but I want you to know...I love you." She hugged my side, biting my ribs as she nestled against me. "I love you--"

"And I love the ground." I stated, watching the mountains start to drop below the chariot. "Oh god, why, why is the ground not enough for ya'll?"

Re-

I hopped off the chariot in two quick jumps. "Hate flying!" I shouted, dust plumeing around me as I stepped into the courtyard of Castle An Arder. "Alright, someone tell me what the fuck happened!" I threw my hands out, watching as guards and civilian bat ponies ran up to me. "Anyone?" I held my arms out and spun around the thick walled courtyard. The pale sun overhead and the thick rain laden fog hanging around us felt cold, constricting. "Anyone?" I quickly realized the futility of my yelling.

I rubbed my face, letting out a long sigh as Moon walked around me, pacing like a cat in heat. "Anyone? Someone tell me what happened?" I asked in Thestrali. "Anypony, man, beast?"

A pony with a stick slung over his back walked over. A bright silver lantern hung off his pole, lighting his face in a soft blue candlelight. "Count Benjamin Wesk, I am Carver, head of the people's revolt for the crown of Count Wesk. Glad to see your safe return!" He snapped to attention, thrusting his chest out with a stomp of his hoof. "The usurpers have been captured, and are awaiting judgment!"

I stared at the brown maned pony. "Uh, for Count Wesk? Shouldn't it be against Count Wesk?" I looked around, watching my guards and the ponies stand calmly around me. "Alright...I got a letter, said there was a coup and a revolt within like...two days. What happened?" I held my hand out, trying to get a physical grasp on what was going on. "Someone tell me what the hell happened?"

A guard with an absurdly perfect mustache walked up to me. "Sir, it's going to rain, maybe we should discuss this inside."

A guard with an umbrella walked over, popping it open and holding it out for me. "Don't tell him what to do, if he wants to talk outside, he can talk outside."

Carver looked around, his lantern spreading light amongst my guards. "Sir, we're holding your throne for you. Perhaps it would be best if you took control again."

I grabbed my head, digging my fingernails against my scalp. "Wait...for me? Shouldn't- this is the worst revolt-slash-coup ever!"

Carver looked around nervously. "Sir? Did...did you not want this?"

I scratched my head. "You keep calling me sir. I'm just a little confused as to what went on."

The guard with the mustache tapped my shoulder. "Carve took the throne and tried to change some laws. The peasants revolted and tossed him in the dungeon for trying to usurp you. After that the guard pulled off a coup and took the throne room back for your rule. We quickly found out that we were both trying to keep the throne safe for your return and promptly disarmed." He fixed his hat and gave his mustache a twirl. "Peasants were worried that Carve was trying to take over, so they overthrew him. We thought they were trying to claim it for themselves and took the castle back. And...now we're all here, and Carve is in jail."

I coughed roughly, my eyes starting to water. "Um, so...it was a revolt, in my name?" I asked Carver, pulling his lantern from his stick and holding it low towards his face. "You put Carve in jail, for me? To protect my rule? To keep me in power?"

Carver nodded. "Were we not meant to? I thought this would be a victorious day against those unfit to rule! I pulled the commoners together, I thought you were in danger...."

I felt my eyes start to water, my vision blurring as I started to feel something warm in my arms. "You threw my regent in jail, because you though he was trying to take over? You actually tried to keep me in power? I- I need a second here." I rubbed my chest, slowly walking towards the wall, my guards following me, the guard with the umbrella sticking close to me. "I'm dealing with a lot of confusing emotions right now...and I don't know how to process this."

Carve walked over, hooking his stick back under his lantern's grip. "Oh, he was your regent? He took the thrown and started giving orders, we assumed he was attempting to take the county for himself." Carve turned around, pulling something strange from his bags. "Well, at any rate, your return is an excellent thing. And, a gift from Ecochi Mining." He pulled a bright silver crown around to his front.

I carefully took the perfect silver ring. "Holy crap, is this real?!" I brought the crown up, looking the peerlessly forged piece over. "This is pure silver...how is this pure silver!?"

Carver nodded. "Ecochi mining has been pulling ore from the mountains since you've arrived. I connected with a few earth ponies and with the money you've invested in my land I've been pulling ores and jewels from the stones of Transylmania for months!" He smiled wide. "Also, is there a way I might donate to the crown? Our wealth would be better used in expanding, not on frivolous toys from Canterlot."

I grabbed my chest, other mixed maned ponies walking up to me. A silver headed mare with a bright streak of wine in it stood before me. "Sir Wesk, Ivee Aross, I've been trying to schedule a moment to speak with you for some time." She looked up to the other mountains across the city. "I have been sending cartographers and explorers amongst the other mountains. I was wondering if you would take some time, we've found several other sites we could expand into cities and hamlets. I thought expanding the County to something respectable, a few more castles, some barons, middle management and land, if you will, would be best. But, I wanted to speak with you before starting."

A black maned pony pushed into the crowd and towards me. "Ben Wesk!" She flipped her cape loudly. "Crescendo Dusk, I simply wanted to follow up upon your return." She blushed softly, coughing into her hoof. "After your disappearance, we were worried your marriage night might have overwhelmed your heart. But, I'm happy to say that since then we've been pushing back into the arts, and have been trying to contact you for some painting commissions and a few displays in the Castle--"

A pink maned mare, "Count--

"Count!"

"Count!"

"Count!"

I looked down to the crown in my hands. "Oh god...the commoners love me." I rubbed my stomach, staring out over the crowd. "Yay." I fell to my knees, nearly crushing Moon under me. I took a deep breath. "How long!?"

The guard with the umbrella ducked down next to me. "Uh...probably for a while. You only ever talked with the nobles one on one...." He scratched his throat. "Probably not the best idea to hang around the blood thirsty power hungry psychos."

I glared up at the guard. "...I had no idea they cared! God damn...this whole time the normal people loved me, and I just got stuck with the fucking psychos?!" I put the crown on my head and slapped myself. "I'm so god damn stupid!"

A pony with a ballcap put her hoof on my arm. "Count...please don't hit yourself."

I stared out at the ponies, the mixed manes, the normal folk, the peasents and craftsponies that actually constituted the town were all around me, talking to me, asking me for things, giving me things. It felt warm, like someone threw paper into a dying furnace. I took a deep breath and sat back, Moon turning around and watching me with a worried look on her face. "Ben, are you alright?"

I took a deep breath, letting it devolve into a cackle. "Oh my god. Nobles are supposed to be nice, and fancy! What the fuck happened!? Why are the commoners nice than ya'll!?"

Moon took a step back. "I'm nice to you!"

I pursed my lips. "You know what I meant...majority wise." I rubbed my blurry eyes. "Eeugh. God...why?"

A pony tapped her hooves on the ground. "You brought food."

Another stepped forward. "You brought work."

"You built my home."

"My foal got her medicine."

"We have wealth."

"We're warm."

"We're safe."

Carver stepped forward, flanked by the crowd of common ponies. "You brought lights, and streets that are paved, rebuilt the wells and set schools in order." He looked towards the gate. "Perhaps you should walk the town.... Take in your work, stop locking yourself in that stone box and enjoy life."

I felt my eyes burn. "Oh god, I need, to nap." I leaned forward, nearly bashing my nose on the ground.

"Count, please for the love of the Moon, be careful!" A pony gently lowered my head down with their own head.

I laid on the rainy stone courtyard, ponies surrounding me, nobles and commoners alike. But for the first time since I arrived, I felt like I'd done something. "Nap time." I closed my eyes and let my muscles go slack as the ponies bustled loudly. "Someone should probably let Carve out of jail...."

Rain Storm

I stood in the entrance hall, staring out over the town. The dim lantern lit roads felt warm, inviting, calm. Knowing just how much good I'd actually done had stuck a cord with my body. I felt like I could run a marathon. I felt like I could build. And with the plans dropped off by the townsponies, I was helping to draw up plans for a few new towns in other mountain areas. "It's gonna rain, isn't it?" I asked myself, watching a few bat ponies fly around.

I rubbed my face. I was torn, I wanted to go back to Vermont and relax, but now I had so much energy. I had friends, my enemies had gone, apologized, and moved on. My friends were brought to a humbling knee by my followers, and a town once crushed by its own weight was not breathing again, functioning, and thriving. I felt my right eye burn ever so softly. "Oh god...it's happening- no...it happened. I did it dad. I did it." I breathed loudly, laughing a little as somepony started to walk up from behind me.

"Rainstorm." Moon mumbled, brushing my side with her head. "It's going to be a rainstorm."

I looked down at her, rubbing my eye to keep it clear. "Is it? I should really formalize the weather department here."

Moon let out a soft sigh, her long silver mane hanging low. "Perhaps." She sat down, leaning against my side. "Ben, can we speak?"

I felt myself frown rather hard. "About?"

"Us."

I took a deep breath, rotating the cuff of my hand and signaling the guards to close the main doors. "What about us?" I stuffed my hands in my pockets and turned to Moon. "This is about Foxglove, right?"

Moon flipped her head back. "Am I that obvious?"

I just watched the tall white mare sit there, on the dull red carpet I'd been given from the House An Arder. "I know you don't like her. I know she's not too fond of you. I know this whole mistress thing isn't going to work."

Moon nodded, showing off just a bit of pain. "I know Ben. It was nice of her to humor me though. I enjoyed being included." Moon Light stood up and turned towards the throne room. The massive two story room with a wrap around balcony felt so much bigger now. But with the size, it kept something calm, something safe. It was alive now. With ponies under my command, ponies under my rule, and ponies exchanging free ideas with my staff. She stopped along a pillar, leaning against it with her flank and brushing me with her tail. "You love her Ben?"

I took a deep breath. "I do. She plucked me from the crowd, and even if it was for some fucked up reason, she grew on me. And I guess I grew on her." I put my hand on the pillar, turning around and resting back to back with Moon, on either side of the pillar. "I'm almost thirty you know. God I feel old." I rubbed my face. "But, I don't too. I mean, after everything that happened, I feel good right now. My heart is back to normal, my head is clear, I feel fine."

Moon huffed softly. "I'm glad. Tell me why you love her."

I rubbed my forehead. "What am I supposed to say?"

"Anything."

"She's kind."

"She was planning to kill you."

"She's smart."

"She uses it to plot."

"She's beautiful."

"Am I not?"

"She cares about me."

"Only after she lost you."

"She never tried to fight me in public...."

"You fought back!"

I pushed off the ground and turned to the pillar. "What do you want? She's my wife. She changed me, and I changed her. That mare...she's different from the mare I met in Canterlot, but she's still mine, she's still kind, she's still my wife." I felt my eyes start to burn. "I know, she did so many bad things, and I'm sure she did worse before I was around. But if I dwell on those I'll never get past it. I talked with Carve about this, but he talks in fake circles! He thinks--"

Moon snaked herself around a pillar. "Carve is weary, philosophical in his old age. Does he know what he talks about? Some times yes, some times no. But you--" Moon ducked her head down. "I'll never understand how any being could love those ponies. They're monsters, Ben. They kill, and the corrupt, and still you love her!"

I ducked down. "Because I know her by her first name. That last name, I didn't know until we showed up here--"

"And that makes it different!?" Moon shot her head up, eyes red and puffy. Her dull raspy voice peaked high, leveling out with a soft whimper. "She will always be like that Ben. Including ponies where we don't belong to get her way--"

"She'll always take care of the foals."

"She'll always be scheming of how to take power!"

"For my family."

Moon lowered her head. "She'll hurt you Ben--"

"And I'll hurt her. We're married, I met that mare, I asked her out the third day she came to help me. Help...I mean, change me into his." I waved my hand at my body. "But without this, without her I wouldn't have any of this. I wouldn't have a town that loves me, I wouldn't have a family, I wouldn't have a chance to raise these kids right!" I put my hand to my heart. "I know her, her mind is like a puzzle. But you know what, she does it all for one thing." I held my arms out, welcoming Moon with a potential hug. "Her family."

Moon stared at my open arms. "Ben, why not me? I hurt you, I fought with you, I care about you--"

With a loud crack the rain started off, a gust of wind rattled the doors and blew a rush of mist through the hall. I was locked in place, standing off with the pure white mare in the red stained hall. "I care about you too."

"But not as much as her?"

"... Hug me."

"Please Ben, tell me why?"

"Hug me."

"Ben, I could have been yours-"

"Moon, hug me."

"-we could have had your family!"

"Moon!"

"..."

"Please?"

"... You hurt me Ben."

"I know."

"Why did you hurt me?"

"Because you're family."

"Why did you choose her?"

"Because I love her. I love you, but please, I need you to understand."

"Ben, it hurts--"

"I know. Believe me I know. But I know you Moon, I know you're strong. Now stop crying, stand up, and take a place at my side. Maybe you're not my wife, and no, you probably never will be. But this is my land, and you are my family, now stop crying...and kiss me once."

"Once?"

"Once, and never again."

"... Make it count."

"I'm more of a Duke now- -but I get your point."

"... We're not telling her, are we?"

"No."

"Can I still come back to Vermont with you?"

"... Tomorrow."

"But--"

"I said once. You've got one chance at this. After we come back from Vermont, I'll have a place for you to go. You'll need an heir, and.... This is your one chance Moon. Or...if you want the title early, it's a Lord Mayorship. So Lord Mayor Moon Light, stay the night?"

"... You said kiss you once. I don't think I can keep that promise."

Silver Night

I sat in my bedroom, alone. My family was locked up safe in Vermont, my people were all dismissed and settled down for the rainstorm. But beyond my tower held room, I knew there was something waiting for me. "I brought...something." Moon's voice came from my bathroom door. "It's a little tight, I think I've gained a little weight since I had it made." Her hooves tapped loudly against the wood floor. "Ben?"

"So, did I tell you?" I slowly turned around, spotting Moon standing with some lacy cloth wrapped around her body, tight and dark red compared to her otherwise white-grey coat. "We're going to found a dukedom." I looked her up and down. "Red?"

Moon scratched her forelegs on the ground, bright red stockings running from just above her hooves to half-way up her legs. Her hooves were bare, bright polished white with her darker fetlocks hanging over ever so slightly. "It's something I had made when I visited Prance. Canterlot was out of the question, and this was when Prance was still mostly farming." She looked down at the corset tied around her back and withers, just above and below her wings. "It's nice...."

I rubbed my face. "Yeah it is." I shifted myself around the bed. "And it fits well, can't really--"

"Can we not?" Moon walked over, her hair was brushed straight and hung heavily just above the floor. "We are adults, no?"

I rubbed my brow with my finger. "Not exactly comfortable with this, you know."

Moon swung her flank around, slowly looking over my bedroom. Her flank was wrapped up in a pair of red lace panties, her tail pulled through a notch near the back with a white ribbon with red borders tied around her dock. "Neither am I.... She was fine with this...but--"

"Doing it behind her back feels wrong... I know." I pinched the bridge of my nose, letting my eyes look over her white and red body. "Oh...crescent."

Moon snapped around, staring at her flank. "My mark?"

I nodded. "I never really pay attention to pony marks. Fox's is a flower... I think it's actually a poisonous flower...." I rubbed my forehead. "I'm just glad I don't have one--"

"You could." Moon turned to me, looking up at me with her bright white eyes, her iris bordered by black with almost a silvery blue tint. "You could change into a pony, we could leave, we could go anywhere...." She put a hoof on my knee and stood up to meet me eye to eye. "I would run away with you."

I move a hand to her hoof, her free hoof hanging just off my thigh. "I know, but you have to understand why I can't." I cupped her hoof in my hands and lifted her up until her free hoof landed against my shoulder. "We've got so much to do here, and--"

Moon pulled her hoof free and pushed it against my other shoulder. "I know, Ben! I know. I run my house, I run the biggest trade family in Transylmania, if not Equestria. I know we've got--"

"Every February...I promise, I'll come visit you." I reached out and grabbed her sides, rubbing up and down the smooth silk corset. "We'll tell Foxglove it wouldn't work, we'll keep it private, but I promise I'll visit every February."

Moon lowered her head and took a shaky breath as I rubbed her sides. "Don't--make promises--you can't keep." She let out a sharp sigh as I massaged her with my thumbs. "A duke, a grand mayor of a new town, I'm doubtful--"

I slid my hands up around her withers. "I never make promises I can't keep." I move my right arm free of her hoof and wrapped it around her head. I pulled her forehead to forehead with me and put enough pressure on the lower part of her neck to bring our lips together. Her lips were soft, and the strange way our faces came together forced her coat against my nose. She let out a soft moan as we broke off. "And I did promise."

I found myself face to face with a silver eye'd mare, staring at me, burning me. "Ben... get on the bed."

I moved my hands back to her sides. "I'm sorry, I thought I was--" I was cut off by a pair of strong hooves slamming against my shoulders. I flung back, landing hard against the mattress. "Jesus--"

Moon was standing on two legs, wings outstretched. "I said...get on the bed." She flapped her wings rather hard, rattling the window and snuffing every flame light in the room. Everything went dark save a small lamp next to the head of my bed. "You never listened to me, but you're going to lay down, undress, and present."

I felt something primal swirl around my stomach. "Jesus...fine then...." I reached down and undid my belt. "... Am--"

Moon blurred in the dark, popping up before slamming down against my thighs. A hoof landed against my stomach, with another reaching across my chest and up to my chin. "No talk." She looked up at the lamp far past my head. "Lay still." She walked past me, reaching down and huffing along my neck. I could feel my heart pick up as she panted across my skin. "You will crawl, pale." She leaned down, licking from my collar to my jaw. "Crawl for me, pale, crawl." She turned abruptly and sank her fangs into the meat of my neck, causing me to let out a short huff as she bit me.

I felt my fingers tighten around my sheets as her fangs slowly punctured my flesh. I could feel every micrometer slipping past my skin and into my body, made all the worse by her tongue lapping up the trickles of blood from the bites. She let out a sharp snarl and started to walk up the bed, forcing me to scramble backwards to keep from ripping my neck open. "Fuck fuck fuck." I whimpered, wishing I could cover the burning pricks but completely forced back by her pulling.

I felt my head bump against the headboard, Moon finally letting go and leaving me to tend to my neck. "Metallic." She mumbled, looking down at the lamp and giving it a quick poke. The world went dark save the silver outline of the mare. "Pants off." Moon demanded, traveling across the bed and stepping up and straddling my stomach. She planted her forelegs against my chest and slowly lowered herself flat against me. "Present yourself, pale."

I wiped off my bloody hand on my shirt and moved down to fish myself out of my pants. "Calling me pale again? Thought you stopped--"

"You'll always be pale to me." the white mare stated, settling down with herself presented neatly to the upturn in my cock. I would be pushing straight up inside her. Her prone position was perfect, ready to take me at any moment, but she held all the movement, and all the power. "Now, pull yourself free and put your hands to my hips!" She dug the point of her hoof against my chest as she curled her head down to lay against me. "You won last time, but I bit you first tonight."

I pulled myself out and let my cock hang there, the muscles tight enough to keep me straight as could be. I felt my tip press roughly against her panties, immediately forced back as she slid back down my body. "So eager. I can't imagine Foxglove and you have been laying much since your return--"

"Once...so...."

"Shh-" a hoof pressed against my lips, "-help me take these off." She wiggled her hips, dragging my tip along her cloth covered mound. "Or, maybe you'd like to keep them on."

I took a deep breath and moved my hands across her ass, blindly feeling her warm butt until sliding my fingers under her panties. "Either way." I slid my fingers down, sliding them across the edges of her plump pussy. "I think I'll just..." I pulled her panties to the side, flicking my cock to the side and sending a wave of warmth against my cock. I took a deep breath as she wiggled into place on my stomach, my rod landing point forward against her lips.

"Ben...really, no romance?" She stared at me, flashing a set of bright white teeth amongst the darkness. "If you insist." Something about her voice in Thestrali felt stronger, with all the more bite from the sharp language. I watched as the single source of light in the room slowly sank towards my neck again. "You're going to have to wear something around your neck when you go back...."

I felt my voice catch again as she sunk her fangs into my neck and throat. The burning sensation around my throat was made all the worse and all the better by the slow, damp, penetration. I heart jumped as I felt her slide back, forcing my cock to split her lips and nestle against her entrance. She let out a soft grunt as I was guided into the waiting heat. "Fu--" I was cut off by another grunt, Moon jerking back and enveloping me wholesale.

Each time I tried to breath, each time I tried to make a noise Moon tightened her grip on my neck. My hands were lost somewhere against her ass, my cock slid past her panties and straight into her pussy. My brain went a bit fuzzy as she bit me, my hands were warm, my cock was wrapped up and hot, starting to drip from the mare laying on my chest. Each movement and wiggle dragged my cock deeper and deeper against the fleshy hot. I felt warm all over, with two sources of heat lighting up the rest of my body. The teeth sunk into my neck, and the mare around my cock.

Each drag along the squishy white mare on my cock was made moot by a grunt. She was on top, I would just have to lay there and do my best not to pop off immediately. But each dripping wet pulse, each drag back and forth as the mare pawed at my chest, it was pink bliss. "Look at you, pale. You're so sad." Moon's teeth released my neck, her bright white form in the darkness pulled back for a moment. "Twitching, needy, throbbing for me. You really should have come to my sooner--" Her voice went quiet. "We're not alo--"

A hoof popped up on my side, sliding a card to me. A soft voice whispered into my ear as Moon sat upright. "House Dusk sends its regards." I felt something lift my head and slid under my neck. My ears quickly met a warmth, a chin rest against my crown. Moon's voice evaporated into a soft mumbled for a moment before her dark outline joined a few others around her. "Our mistress saw you, and with your foals away, she was afraid you might feel lonely."

I couldn't complain. Moon had all but stolen my voice. All I could do was sit there with a mare wrapped around my head like a pillow, letting Moon bounce up and down on my cock as a pair of mares held her sides. I was buried in blind warmth. At some point I'd lost my shirt, either ripped off or slipped off, I had no idea. i was lost in the musky bliss as Moon slid up and down, wings flared out, forelegs jammed against my stomach. A mare's tail was wrapped around me, warming me, keeping the stiff cold away as I let myself squeeze into Moon's tight body.

Each meaty thud of her flank against my lap was bliss, each throb, each grunt and mumble, it was mind numbing. All I could really focus on was the giggling mares, and the tingling around my cock. I couldn't move, I could barely tell when I was cumming, it all swirled into a warm tingling numbness. Nothing could ruin it, the tickling jolts in my groin, the heat, the dripping wet, the muscles squeezing me, milking me, using me for her pleasure, it was everything I needed.

It was like someone was pulling the tension out of my body, straight from my rod. Like someone had busted a cork and popped that bottled tension throughout my body. I went limp as Moon slumped against me, forcing me to pop out and rest against her dripping panties. "Ben...why are there mares touching me?" Moon whispered, laying her head down under my chin.

I watched as one mare mounted up and laid flat on Moon's back. Another went to work dragging her tongue over my cock, and from her soft grunts and wiggles, Moon's white pumped slit. "I don't know...warm." I squeezed Moon's flanks, settling in among the mare pile. Bodies surrounded me, under my neck, on my chest, nestled around my toes, my knees, I was living under a blanket of life.

"Ben...you should really masturbate more...you'll last longer." Moon lifted my chin with her forehead. "Last longer, more cum...more wet warm happy."

I moved my hands from her ass to her back, the backs of my fingers covered up by a mare belly. "Every February...I promise." I moved my hand to the back of her head and held her against me. "I promise."

"I know Ben... I know."

Couldn't Wait

I sat on my throne, Foxglove had sent a letter and would be home with my guard and the foals soon enough. They were getting far too much attention back in Vermont, and my family said they couldn't keep track of all my foals without me around. "Such a nice trip...just buggered."

"It wasn't terrible for me." Moon mumbled, peeking past a column and over at me. "The Dusk said it worked...and, I'm inclined to trust those whoreponies."

I rubbed my face. "Congratulations?" I held my head in my hands. "Parenthood is pretty...pretty god damn hard."

Moon walked out onto the carpet before me. "I'll handle it." She walked up to me, pressing a hoof against my toes. "I'll have help, yes?"

I looked down at her with a frown. "I'll do everything I can." I stood up and ducked down before her. "Foxglove, the foals, the duchy, I'll handle it. And I promise you, I'll make time to visit you whenever I can."

Foxglove stared at my hand. "I know, Ben. You made a promise, and like you said-" she nuzzled my knee, "you hold your promises."

I smiled down at her. "So what's the name gonna be?"

"Pale." She laughed, smiling up at me. "I love you Ben...remember that."

I felt my face tighten up as she spoke. "I know Moon. If I'd known earlier, maybe things could have been different."

Moon closed her eyes and nodded, smiling all the while. "Time will make a fool of you if you surround yourself with, could haves."

"I suppose so." I squeezed her withers, rubbing down her sides. "You'll make a find grand-mayor."

"And you'll be a fine duke. But please, remain The Count. Your people will find it easier to attach to you." She turned to the door, far off down the hall. "They sent you to take care of foals?"

I joined her in her stare down the hall. "Yeah, that was my first job."

Moon nodded. "And now you're here, taking care of everyone." She smiled a tired, content little smile. "I couldn't think of a better person to do it." She pulled her hooves from my toes. "Now, stay safe Ben. You've got too many people that care about you to go and be reckless."

I could only stare from my throne as she walked down the hall. Her white tail swept behind her, her body swung as she walked. "Bye Moon Light, I'll visit soon." I rubbed my hands together, feeling a bit empty as I did. "That kid is gonna be beautiful...." I wiped off my eyes. "All my kids are beautiful." I looked up at a massive fresco a few ponies from House Dusk were painting. Old world ponies tied up around a dragon, spears and lances, crossbows and war, all painted above me. "Each and every one of them."

I'd done it. I'd raised them up. Now I could only sit back, enjoy their prosperity and keep them on course. As any good parent would.

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Ben And The Bats

Mature Rated Fiction

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