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.