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...."