Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

"What?" A regal female voice echoed out. "What are you" Julius heard. Looking around, all he saw was a faint blue mist. Rubbing his head, Julius felt disorientated, not entirely awake, but definitely asleep. Panting heavily, Julius called upon all of his willpower.

"OK, OK, I'm dreaming," Julius said aloud to nobody, "but I know it. So I can control it," he continued walking through his dream while massaging his head. "I can AHHH~" Julius moaned in pain, his head throbbing. A shooting pain raced through his head, a pain that felt as though someone, something, was trying to force its way in.

"What are you?" The female voice returned. "How can you resist me?" The voice asked, obviously strained. "What do you have to hide?" The disembodied voice now stated with mild irritation. A small blue tear started to form in the sky. Slowly but surely, it was growing. Looking up in a combination of awe, and terror Julius slowly backed up. The pain echoed through his head. Holding his head in pain, Julius fell to his knees. Panting heavily and looking up towards the tear through watery eyes, Julius grew pale. A blue furry hoof made its way through. With great effort and lots of grunting, the tear in the dreamscape sky was opening, and something was coming through.

"NO!" Julius screamed in panic and fear.

Shooting up fully awake and in a cold sweat, Julius looked down at himself. Trying to steady his breathing while pressing on various parts of his body, Julius confirmed that he was indeed awake.

"So you can speak," A female African voice said. "That is good, but there is no need to skreak," the voice finished sounding slightly annoyed and slightly amused.

"Sorry," Julius said meekly, "I just," Julius shivered at the thought, "just had a nightmare. Well, I think it was a nightmare," Julius said, rubbing his head still in slight pain. "I hope it was a nightmare," he said, gaining his bearings.

"Why would one hope for that. Nightmares are things to combat," The female said, getting somewhat closer though still holding her distance.

"Well, if it wasn't a nightmare, then," Julius started to trail off as he surveyed his surroundings, "that means I'm dealing with a dream demon," he finishes as his eyes fall upon a zebra. The to meet the other's gaze, his focused, narrow, much like a predator but not wholly so, hers wide and bright though hiding fear. "Uhhh, shot in the dark, am I talking to a zebra?" Julius asked, the inflection in his voice clearly showing bafflement.

"So you know of my kind. Forgive me, but of yours, I am blind," The zebra said as she took in the stranger's features. Sure she looked him over while he was passed out but awake, aware his features were revealed more, the rapid movement of his eyes, the movements of his hands, the pantings of his mouth, the teeth, the clearly pointed teeth for eating meat. The zebra backed up a bit.

"Right, of course, why not," Julius said with bemused annoyance. "This world has magic and mythological beings, so why wouldn't it have talking animals?" He said in a slightly nervous laugh. Holding his head, Julius couldn't help but laugh. The whole series of events was so bizarre. What was supposed to happen was an ordinary, boring trip to the museum, followed by a typical boring homework assignment, then continued by a normal boring life. However, now he had to deal with magic, monsters, talking animals, and the extreme unknown.

Looking on at the strange creature lying on the floor laughing, the zebra cocked her head in confusion. "I think I may have broken you. Can you tell me who or what you are, for I have no clue?" She asked, somewhat nervous.

"Right, right, right, sorry," Julius said, his laughter dying down. "My name is Julius, and I am a human," he said as he looked around the place he was in. Sitting up with a sigh, he continued. "I take it you're the one who saved me; if so, thank you," Julius thanked as he took in the surroundings. The place was definitely a home of some sort, looked vaguely tribal, and had many potion-like containers. Maybe this zebra was a witch doctor or wise woman, something along those lines.

"My name is Zecora, and I am indeed your savior. Now, what gave you your wound must have been more than bad behavior?" The zebra named Zecora asked him, still keeping her distance but her stance softening.

"Well, the short of it, an amulet talked to me, then there was a bright flash of light. Then I was in the middle of a forest; I learned that I somehow gained some magic powers. I tested out what I had, and then a manticore attacked me," Julius summarized as he rubbed his arm where the manticore's tail got him.

"A creature out of place. You are lucky I am a creature of grace," Zecora said softly, smiling. "Manticore venom is no joke. Even a small dose, and you'll croak," she said, slowly walking towards Julius. "I'm guessing you must have some healing magic. If not, then your story would be a lot more tragic," she said, standing in arms reach of Julius.

"Yeah, yeah, I do have some healing magic, though I'm not sure how much," Julius said, resisting the urge to pet the zebra. "I learned I have it by accident. Obviously, I didn't want to test it, you know, since it'd mean getting hurt," he stifled a nervous laugh. "In an unknown place, I'd like to avoid injury as much as possible," Julius said as his stomach started to growl. "Sorry, I guess I'm hungrier than I thought. I hope I'm not imposing but could I please have something to eat?" Julius asked as his hunger dawned on him.

"It's no imposition at all," Zecora said as she turns to her cauldron, serving up some soup in a bowl Zecora gives it to Julius. "I imagine you'll need more; for you, the bowl is quite small. If more is what you need, you can serve more yourself, or give me a call," Zecora says, chuckling as Julius pretty much drinks the whole bowl down in one mighty gulp.

"Thank you, you're too kind," Julius says as he fishes out another full bowl. He usually could eat two bowls, but these were so small it'd be four easy, and of course, it was vegetable soup, so make that five minimum. Drinking this bowl down slower, Julius had more time to savor the taste. The soup tasted hearty, earthy, and fresh; it was quite refreshing.

Looking on with some mirth, Zecora chuckled. "I had you pegged as a large eater. At this rate, you'll eat a liter," she laughed as Julius downed another bowl. After six bowls, nearly emptying the cauldron, Julius finally stopped to take a proper breath. Placing his bowl down, he looked somewhat sorrowfully at Zecora.

"Hey, Zecora, why do this?" Julius asked, clearly confused. "I'm a completely unknown being," Julius started. "I can tell you figured that I eat meat," he continued " I'm obviously a threat to you, and yet you healed me, you sheltered me, you gave me food, why?" He asked, his voice saturated with confusion that masked some sadness.

"I know what it's like. For others to look and say 'take a hike.' To be feared without being known. To see your chance at friends, at a home all but blown. You may look like a threat to me. Your size and teeth are clear to see. But in your soul and mine, I can tell. We are two of a kind, so please rest and get well," Zecora says calmly to Julius, walking over to him.

"Ah, alright if you insist," Julius says, smiling. "Though I have to ask. If it's not a problem," he says, slightly blushing, his voice slightly straying off, "can I umm, can I pet you?" He asked, slightly hanging his head and averting his gaze from hers.

A little startled at the request Zecora composes herself, "I have a few moments to spare. So if you really wish, you may pet this mare," she says softly, climbing onto Julius's lap.

Running his hands through Zecora's mane and fur, Julius softly starts humming. The melody is calming, peaceful, relaxing, a fitting to the atmosphere of the room the two are in. Deeply breathing, Julius could smell the herbs, the concoctions, and the cooking; it made for a soothing scent, one like a country home. Zecora, for her part, couldn't help but lean into Julius; his fingers and hands seemingly had a magic all of their own. Each finger deftly hitting spots no hoof could hope to hit, and with such precision and strength, every knot in her body seemed to wither away. Relaxing in the somewhat socially awkward position, Julius finally broke the silence. "Zecora, you seem to be a wise woman or well mare. Do you think you could teach me magic?" Julius asks while playing with her mane.

"The magic you possess is closer to ponies than to mine. But I know the theory, so we can but on fundamentals just fine," Zecora replied. "Aside from healing, what powers do you possess. It would be much easier if you told, and I didn't guess."

"Well, I seem to have physical augmentation; you know I can increase my strength, speed, endurance, stuff like that. When I used them in the forest, they weren't very noticeable. When I was in danger, though, they were suddenly a lot stronger, but using them was a lot more exhausting. It was weird, as when I wasn't in danger, I had to really focus hard to get anything from them. I'm kind of worried that I don't really have control of them," Julius explained to Zecora.

"I see I see my human friend. I shall make some exercises for your magic to ascend, while to your wounds I shall tend," Zecora tells Julius as she forces herself up and away from his hands, as difficult as it was.

And so Julius's wounds got better. Even with healing magic and healing potions, it turns out manticore venom takes some time to heal fully. After it passed, Julius started on Zecora's training regime. It was basic, very basic, but effective nonetheless. With each passing day, his magical endurance increased; eventually, Julius could maintain a constant buff to himself. His healing abilities, meanwhile, lagged. Sure he had Zecora's place to stay at, but it didn't change the fact that he was still in a dangerous place, that he quite frankly didn't know much if anything about, so he was apprehensive about letting himself get injured to build that magical skill. Though injuries did happen, so it did build up very slowly.

As the days passed, the two got to know each other, with Julius telling Zecora about his world, friends, and family. From the look on her face, it was clear she didn't fully believe him, heavier than air flying machines, a population of over seven billion, walking on the moon, surely he was making stuff up. For his part, Julius tried to believe what Zecora was telling him. Still, it was difficult, pegasi controlling the weather, some half unicorn half pegasi controlling the sun, an evil one sealed in the moon, yeah, a lot to take in.

Every night, when Julius slept, the same voice kept hounding him. Asking him questions, but thanks in part to his training and many of Zecora's charms, it wasn't a problem.

Weeks would pass on like this until something changed, a chance meeting with a creature Julius wasn't quite sure he wanted to meet, if what Zecora told him held any truth.