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."