Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

As they entered the farmhouse, the group was greeted by the smell of freshly made country stew.

"Heh, guess we're just in time," Applejack said as she led Julius and Twilight into the kitchen.

"Hey, Applejack, you're late," Apple Bloom joked as she sat at the table.

"Very funny, Apple Bloom," Applejack said while rolling her eyes. "Where's Granny Smith?" Applejack asked as Julius and Rainbow Dash all sat down at the table.

"Here I am," Granny Smith said as she walked into the kitchen. "I was just cleaning myself up," Granny Smith said as she shut the door. "Guessing y'all are hungry," Granny Smith said as she and Applejack walked over to the counter.

"Yes, very," Julius and Rainbow Dash both said in tandem.

"Heh, with all that you've eaten, I'm surprised that you're still hungry," Rainbow Dash jokingly whispered at Julius.

"Yeah, yeah, keep laughing," Julius whispers back to Rainbow Dash as he joins in the joke. "I've only gotten my fill of Apples for a time," Julius quietly chuckles to Rainbow Dash.

"What's so funny?" Apple Bloom asked a laughing Rainbow Dash.

"D-don't worry about it," Rainbow Dash tells Apple Bloom between laughs. "Ask again in a few years."

"OK," Apple Bloom said, her voice trailing off.

"Well, that's surprising for you, sugarcube," Applejack said as Granny Smith approached the table.

"What's on your mind, little one?" Granny Smith asked after setting down a large pot of stew.

"Not much, just the homework I have to do," Apple Bloom sighed. "It's nice that Miss Cheerilee isn't giving as much, but it's still a pain to do," Apple Bloom moaned before she got herself a bowl of stew.

"I can help out," Julius offered as he got his bowl of soup. "I might not have been the best student, but I still got honors with distinction when I graduated high school," Julius said as the ponies gave him an odd look. "I got at least ninety percent in every class," Julius clarified for the ponies.

"Oh, so you're an egghead too," Rainbow Dash lightly joked as she got her bowl.

"Not really, just naturally smart and had almost no social life," Julius told Rainbow Dash as she and Applejack started to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Applejack said, biting her lower lip, "Twilight," Applejack laughed as Rainbow Dash laughed even harder.

"Now now, girls," Granny Smith lightly chastised, "the dinner table isn't a place to be teasing a guest," Granny Smith told the laughing mares before getting a bowl of stew. "Eat your supper, then you can tease Julius some more," Granny Smith playfully chuckled.

"Thanks for the brief respite," Julius half-heartedly thanked. "Though really, I don't see us being that much alike," Julius retorted as he ate a spoonful of stew.

"Well," Rainbow Dash started, muting her laughter, "Twilight is also really smart, and she also didn't have friends."

"Now Dash, I think Spike said something about Twilight having friends in Canterlot," Applejack interjected as she started to eat her supper.

"Yeah, he did, but has Twilight ever mentioned them?" Rainbow Dash responded eyebrow raised. "Does it count if she doesn't mention them?"

"OK, yeah, that's bad," Julius absentmindedly said. "I might not have had much of a social life, but I still had some of one. A few at-school-only friends, and a couple of groups, but they still count," Julius defended himself between spoonfuls of stew.

The group carried on their supper, with bouts of teasing Julius, and Julius defending himself breaking up the meal. The two mares were having a bit more than their fair share of teasing Julius, and Julius, returning the favor with plenty of eye-rolling. Granny Smith only half-heartedly reprimanded the mares while getting in on the teasing a bit. Apple Bloom, surprisingly, was being well behaved, badly wanting some help with her homework.

"OK, girls," Apple Bloom started to say as she finished her supper, "I'm done eating, and I really need help with my homework," Apple Bloom said as she got up from her chair. "Come then, mister smart guy," Apple Bloom told Julius while lightly pulling at the hem of his tunic.

"OK, OK," Julius sighs, "you'll all be fine cleaning up here, right?" Julius asked the mares as he starts to let Apple Bloom lead him.

"Well, if you're going to be helping the young'un, I reckon we'll be fine," Granny Smith tells Julius. "Do make sure to get it all done now, ya hear," the wizened mare tells the two as they walk off.

"OK, Apple Bloom," Julius sighs, "where is this homework?" Julius asks as he pulls a stool over to Apple Bloom's desk.

"It's right here," Apple bloom chirped up as she pulled out a few notebooks from her saddlebag. Setting the notebooks down on her desk Julius starts to look through them. On the one hand, it somewhat infuriated him that he was in a new world but still doing schoolwork; on the other, Julius did want to learn more about Equestria's society. Flipping through the books, Julius found that they were mostly math, an English book, or Equish as the ponies called it, and a science book.

"I'm fine with the science work; it's mostly earth science," Apple Bloom assured Julius, who just agreed. "The math and Equish ones are the ones I need help with," Apple Bloom told Julius.

"Fair enough, living on a farm will do that, I suppose," Julius said to Apple Bloom as he flipped through the Equish book.

"If you want to start with Equish, I'm OK with that," Apple Bloom told Julius as she sat down beside him.

"Well, where I'm from, it's called English, but they do seem to be the same, save for a few phrases and words. So sure, let's start there," Julius agreed with Apple Bloom as he helped the filly with her homework. Sure enough, the work was almost identical to the very same work he had to do in that grade. Sure Julius basically knew every answer already, but some were creative writing questions. He couldn't guarantee a perfect grade, but he could guarantee a high grade.

"I have to ask, why did you want to help me with my homework?" Apple Bloom asked as she finished her English homework.

"Honestly, I wanted to learn more about Equestria; this was a good excuse. Also, I figured it'd help win Applejack to my side," Julius admitted. "Honestly, it feels like she's coming around, but it feels like she still wants something," Julius told the filly as he opened up the math book.

"Yeah," Apple Bloom said, sadness heavy in her voice. "She's been like that as long as I remember," Apple Bloom said as she started on her math problems.

"Like, in general?" Julius asked as he pointed out a few mistakes Apple Bloom made.

"With stallions," Apple Bloom said, her sadness growing at that statement.

"Why's that? Did something happen?" Julius asked as he showed Apple Bloom the formula to the problem she was trying to answer.

"Kinda, from what I could tell, it was the disappearance of our parents. I don't remember them. I was still a foal when they disappeared, so I don't remember them that well," Apple Bloom said as she fixed her mistakes. "But Applejack was thirteen at the time, and Big Mac was fifteen. According to Granny, Big Mac was pretty fine after a few months, but Applejack never recovered. Don't tell her I said anything, but I think she's afraid of making any romantic connections," Apple Bloom quietly told Julius.

"Oh, I'm sorry for your loss," Julius solemnly said. "I'm sure they're in a better place."

"What do you mean?" Apple Bloom asked with mild shock. "Ma and Pa aren't dead or anything; they're just missing. They're still alive, I know it!" Apple Bloom firmly states as she finishes her next question. "We Apples are strong as can anything, even alicorns!" Apple Bloom energetically says, much to Julius's amusement.

"Don't change Apple Bloom, please, don't," Julius says with a bittersweet smile on his face. "Moving away from such a morose topic," Julius starts to say, "do you think you can talk to your teacher for me? I want to sit in on a few classes."

"You want to go to school? Why?" Apple Bloom asks with some surprise.

"Don't get me wrong, Zecora is a great teacher, and she's taught me a lot. But she hasn't taught me much about Equestria. The most Zecora has told me of Equestria is that it's been a mostly isolationist country for a very long time, only, you know, in rhyme," Julius told Apple Bloom.

"Oh, OK," Apple Bloom said, sounding somewhat sad. "I'll ask Miss Cheerilee about it," Apple Bloom told Julius, who was chuckling. "Why are you laughing?"

"No reason, your teacher must be very firm," Julius chuckles while he tries to stifle himself. "Her teacher is getting plowed by her brother, and yet Apple Bloom's teacher still gives her this much homework. Hate to meet her in a bad mood," Julius thinks to himself.

"Well, I think that's about it," Apple Bloom happily said as she and Julius stood up. "Thanks for your help!" Apple Bloom happily said as Julius looked out the window.

"No problem Apple Bloom," Julius happily said while rustling the top of Apple Bloom's mane. "It's starting to get late, Rainbow Dash, and I really should be getting back to Zecora's place," Julius tells the filly as he starts to leave the room.

"Fair enough, I'd imagine that The Everfree is dangerous at night," Apple Bloom said as she followed Julius down.

"Yes, and no. It's more dangerous in some ways, but in many others, it's safer. Honestly, it's a wash," Julius told Apple Bloom as they walked downstairs. "Hey all," Julius says as he enters the living room.

"Done, already?" Granny Smith asked, suspicion clear in her voice.

"Yes!" Apple Bloom happily chirped as she sat down on a plush pillow.

"She didn't do too badly," Julius complimented as he sat down on the couch. "Without help, I'd she'd have gotten around seventy-five on her math and Equish," Julius said as Rainbow Dash sat down beside him. "Now, easily a hundred on math, and I'd say at least ninety on the Equish."

"Can't guarantee a hundred for Equish, huh?" Granny Smith said accusingly while walking towards Julius.

"Well, there's some creative writing involved and some room for opinion," Julius said as he met Granny Smith's gaze. The old mare and the human share a tense moment gazes locked firmly on to the other.

"That's alright, appleseed," Granny Smith laughed as Julius laughed with her. "Thank you, young'un, for entertaining an old mare in her foolishness," Granny Smith thanked.

"It's really true; old people everywhere are the same," Julius laughs as Applejack and Apple Bloom looks on in mild shock.

"Can't believe you answered Granny like that," Apple Bloom said as she recovered from her shock.

"My grandmother used to do the same thing; I'm used to it," Julius told the filly as he brushed his fingers through Rainbow Dash's mane. "Shouldn't Luna be getting back by now?" Julius asked as he looked at a clock. Almost as if on cue, a burst of cobalt blue pops into the middle of the room. A tired-looking Luna walked out from the light.

"Sorry, that took a bit longer than I thought it would," Luna panted as she got up on the couch. "My wards at that cursed place were gravely worn," Luna panted as she rested her head on Julius's lap, opposite of Rainbow Dash.

"Must be some powerful stuff you and your sister are sealing," Julius said as he gently brushed Luna's mane.

"Yes, Windigos can be rather strong. These ones and this place especially so," Luna pants as the ponies look at Luna in shock; even Julius stopped his petting. "What?"

"You got some explaining to do," Julius and Granny Smith both say.

"Oh, was that out loud? My bad, forget I said anything," Luna said as everycreature looked right at her. Holding the silence for a few moments, Luna sighed. "Look, I can't say much; that place is forbidden for a very good reason, trust me. What I can say is that if my or my sister's wards fail, Windigos could reappear at that place. If they do, then that place will, once again, live up to its name. Trust me, nocreature wishes for that," Luna said with a shiver.

"Fair enough, Zecora's told me enough about Windigos to know not to mess with them," Julius said while petting Luna and Rainbow Dash.

"What did she tell you about them?" Rainbow Dash asked while relaxing.

"Well, she told me that they're ghostlike zombielike spirits that can possess creatures and start blizzards," Julius told the ponies. "She didn't tell me too much, though. It was like the Windigos were mythical even to her."

"More or less, what Zecora has told you is accurate," Luna said as she relaxed.

"You know more?" Julius asked, eyebrow raised.

"Considering my sister and I had to fight them directly, yes, we both know a lot more," Luna said. "Nothing you want to know, though, trust me. Somethings are better left forgotten."

"Must be pretty dark stuff," Julius said while scratching behind Luna's and Rainbow Dash's ears.

"It is," Luna lightly moaned as Julius scratched a sweet spot behind her ear. "We should get going. I fear if we stay like this, I'll end up falling asleep," Luna lightly laughed as she willed herself up.

"Yeah, we probably should. After all, Twilight did want to do that magic affinity test, or whatever it is," Julius said in agreement.

"Oh fine," Rainbow Dash groaned as she stood up. "Shame too, I was very comfortable."

"I could tell," Julius lightly chuckled as he stood up. "Thanks for supper," Julius thanked as he, Luna, and Rainbow Dash started to head to the door.

"Not a problem, dearie," Granny Smith responded.

"Thank you for your help," Applejack and Apple Bloom thanked as the three left the farmhouse.

Making their way through the orchard, the three held a silence. Both Julius and Rainbow Dash wanted to ask more about the Windigos, but both knew it was a dark subject, which Luna didn't want to talk about. Luna, for her part, knew that the two wanted to ask, but she didn't dare say anything without needing to. Pre-Equestria history had its dark spots, this one especially so.

"You know Luna," Julius said, finally breaking the silence. "Human history is extremely bleak. Whatever these Windigos are about, you can tell me, I can take it," Julius tried to reason.

"I doubt that," Luna flatly said. "From what you've said, and from what I've seen in your dreams, it doesn't look that bad."

"Then I've hidden it well," Julius bitterly smiled. "I've been trying my best to put forth the best of humanity. But trust me, there are parts of our history that would give you the worst nightmares," Julius told Luna as they walked into the town proper.

"Like what?" Luna and Rainbow Dash asked.

"Well, our wars come to mind, and well the violence in general," Julius flatly said.

"War is a sad thing," Luna said as the group walked towards The Golden Oak. "Equestria has had a few, though the last was the Crystal Liberation War against Sombra."

"Sometime, in private, we'll talk about our histories. Then you can decide whether or not I can handle your knowledge of the Windigos," Julius offered as The Golden Oak came fully into view.

"Very well, but I can assure you that you cannot," Luna chuckled with a sad bitterness as the group stood outside The Golden Oak.

"Twilight, Spike, Bubblegum, White Knight, we're here!" Julius shouted as he knocked on the door.

"Come on in!" Twilight happily responded as Julius could feel the eye-rolling from Shining Armor and the sighing from Cadance.

"Those aren't our names," Shining Armor told Julius as the three entered the library.

"I know, but your reaction is funny," Julius laughed. "Besides, I get the impression that you're a bit of a white knight," Julius told Shining Armor, much to Rainbow Dash's amusement.

"Come on now, you're not here to tease my brother," Twilight said as she entered the room. "You're here to get tested."

"Indeed you are," Zecora agreed as she entered the room behind Twilight. "We were discussing your affinity while you were afar. We came to some conclusions that were most bizarre. Rest assure that of our conversations, you were a star," Zecora told Julius as she walked up to him.

"Well, glad to know that I'm a science experiment," Julius said before looking to his side for a moment. "A magic experiment? A magical science experiment? An experiment, yeah. Glad to know that I'm an experiment then," Julius settled on.

"Understand that you are pretty unique," Cadance said as she looked at Julius. "As far as we know, no human has ever been in Equestria before. And while the Alicorn Amulet interfering with your magic, who knows how it's been affected," Cadance told Julius.

"True enough, I suppose," Julius agreed. "So, how does the test happen? Like does it need my blood or something?" Julius asked.

"WHAT? NO!" Twilight exclaimed in surprise. "Why would you ever think that?"

"The test can theoretically be done with blood, but there is a much easier, much less painful way," Luna calmly said as Julius sat down. "There are four magical crystals, each primed with the energy from an element. Touch each crystal with your magic; if the crystal glows, then you have that magical affinity," Luna explained.

"Oh, thank God. That sounds much better," Julius sighed with relief. "So are the crystals color coated, like if I touch the fire crystal, will it glow red?" Julius asked as Twilight recovered from her shock.

"Yes, by their color are the crystals coded," Zecora said as she sat beside Julius, "Fire, for example, with red it is loaded. Water is blue, as I'm sure you already knew. Earth is brown, like the color of the ground in town. Air is green, and it has a gleam that must be seen," Zecora explained to Julius while Twilight went to get the crystals.

"Alright, pretty straightforward," Julius said as he petted Zecora's head. "So how do I touch the crystals with my magic? Do I just cast a spell on them?" Julius asked.

"More or less, yes," Luna responded. "For unicorns, it's enough to levitate the crystals, but you haven't shown the ability to levitate," Luna said in thought. "Try using your healing magic on the crystals; that should work," Luna told Julius.

"I can't think of anything better, so I will," Julius said as Twilight entered the room, four dull, translucent crystals with her. Each crystal having a pale hue of its color.

"Alright, I have the crystals," Twilight said as she sat them down on a table in front of Julius. "I trust somepony told you how the test works?" Twilight asked as she sat opposite Julius.

"Yes, Luna did," Julius told Twilight as everypony and Spike sat around the table. "Luna told me to use my healing magic since I can't seem to you levitation."

"Yes, that should still work," Twilight said as she looked over the crystals. "Might as well confirm what we all already know. Julius, please take the red crystal and try to heal it," Twilight told Julius. Following Twilight's instruction, Julius grabbed the translucent red crystal. Julius felt magical energy flow from his body into the crystal as he focused on the crystal.

"There, just as we all thought, the crystal is glowing," Twilight said, her eyes closed.

"Uhhh, Twilight," Julius and Spike both started to say. Looking at each other, Julius let Spike tell Twilight.

"The crystal isn't glowing," Spike told Twilight.

"Oh Spike," Twilight starts to chuckle while slowly opening her eyes, "to use magic actively, you need to have an affinity for fire," Twilight explains as she shakes her head. "See Spike? The crystal isn't glowing, which means Julius isn't attuned to fire. Proving that he is attuned to fire," Twilight confidently says, her mouth going faster than her brain. "Wait, it's not glowing? It's not glowing!" Twilight exclaims, her voice shattering the silence that has overcome the room.

"I noticed, so what exactly does this mean?" Julius asked as he placed the crystal down. "Guessing that my magic works differently."

"More or less yes," Luna tells Julius as she collects herself. "Fire represents energy. When a unicorn or an alicorn uses magic, we add our energy to the spell for it to work. There are ways to supplement this, but they only have a limited effect. I suspect one of these supplemental ways is your main way to use magic," Luna offers as the others collect their thoughts.

"To that, I must agree. Three other crystals are what I see," Zecora started to speak up. "During our talk, I thought your spirit might be that of Water or Earth. Why not try one of them to see if it shows your worth?" Zecora offers as a suggestion. "Though, as I say this, I have a thought. Perhaps both Water and Earth are what ought to be sought."

"Sure, guess I'll try Water next," Julius said as he picked up the pale blue crystal. "After all, humans are about sixty percent water, give or take," Julius absentmindedly said as he focused on the crystal. Like the Fire crystal before, Julius felt a rush of energy flow from his body into the crystal. Unlike before, though, he felt a current of energy flow back into him; it was as if a rushing river was flowing into his arm. A deep blue light shone from the crystal, with tiny, brilliant white sparks interlaced in the sea of sapphire light.

"My thoughts about you being of Water's patronage seems to be founded. Judging from this sea of light of which we are surrounded," Zecora softly smiled. "Now Earth is in order to try. To the brown crystal, your magic you should apply," Zecora told Julius.

"Alright," Julius said in agreement as he sat the crystal down. Removing his hand from the crystal, he felt like a flowing calm was ripped away from him. Julius once again focused his magical energy into a crystal as he picked up the dull brown crystal. As he did so, As Julius did so, he felt his body being embraced in a comforting hug. It wasn't hot, nor was it overbearing, but rather, it was like a parent's hug. A brilliant earthy brown light filled the room; the same tiny white sparks as the blue light were present here as well. "Guessing that makes Earth one of my elements as well. Shall I try Air too? Who knows, maybe I'll have three elements," Julius joked as he places the Earth crystal down. Removing his hand from the crystal, it felt like he was breaking off that hug.

"I doubt that," Twilight said as the light faded from the room. "Still, though, I did doubt that you wouldn't be Fire, so I suppose it's possible. Better to test it, rule out any possibilities," Twilight said as she started to pack up the three other crystals.

"Alright then," Julius said as he grabbed the pale green crystal. For a final time, Julius focused his energy. This time, however, no light shone from the held crystal. Holding the crystal for a few moments, just to make sure, Julius finally set the crystal down.

"Thank Celestia," Twilight sighed in relief. "I'm not sure how many magical anomalies I could take in a day," Twilight happily sighed as she put the final crystal away.

"Twilight, you're forgetting something," Cadance told Twilight. "The Dark Magic test," Cadance reminded Twilight.

"Oh, yes, that," Twilight nervously laughed. "The thing is," Twilight started to trail off, "I don't have the crystal to test for that," Twilight sheepishly said.

"Understandable," Luna assured Twilight. "It's rare that a test for Dark Magic needs to be done. There is a crystal that can test for it at the castle; I'll go get it," Luna told Twilight as she teleported away. A few short moments passed before Luna teleported back, this time with a saddlebag. "Here, the crystal for testing for Dark Magic," Luna says as she levitates a pale black crystal from the saddlebag. Placing it down on the table in front of Julius, Luna said down beside Julius.

"I'm guessing it's the same process as the other crystals, right?" Julius asked as he picked up the pale black crystal.

"That is correct, yes," Luna confirmed.

"Alright, one last time then," Julius said as he focused his energy into the crystal. At first, Julius doesn't feel anything; that all changes. A surge of energy gets pulled from Julius's arm. The energy gets replaced with biting cold. A black light fills that room; tiny white sparks shine in the dark void of the light, and lines of white light run through the darkness as if veins of light were cutting through the darkness.

"Well, you've definitely been touched by Dark Magic," Luna observes. "But it seems like you're doing a fine job of fighting it back," Luna remarks as the white veins seem to pulse with energy.

"Well, thanks for the vote of confidence," Julius sighs as he places the crystal down. "So, how long will I have to deal with this? Is there a way to get rid of it?" Julius asked as he removed his hand from the crystal, the dreadful cold finally leaving his body.

"Unfortunately, there isn't any way to fully remove Dark Magic," Luna sadly tells Julius. "But don't worry, you're doing just fine fighting it off," Luna reassures Julius.

"Wait a moment," Rainbow Dash chirps up. "What about the Elements of Harmony? They should be able to get rid of that Dark Magic," Rainbow Dash offers.

"It can, but only for a time. After being touched by Dark Magic like this, it'll always have some hold on you. The Elements of Harmony can banish it, but only for a time. We know, we tried that on Sombra," Luna told Rainbow Dash.

"You and Auntie tried to purify Sombra?" Cadance asked. "Auntie never told me that."

"It was the first thing that Celestia and I tried. It worked for a time, but the darkness came back. Granted, Sombra chose Dark Magic, but even before he started to practice it again, we felt the darkness return to him," Luna told Cadance. "I'm sorry, Julius, but you'll be dealing with this for the rest of your life. But don't worry, I swear I won't let you fall," Luna assured Julius.

"I see," Julius sighed. "Well, thanks for letting me know," Julius thanked as he rested back on the couch. "Well, it's been a long day, and I think both Luna and I could use some rest. Wanna just rest here for a bit before heading back to Zecora's?" Julius asked as he started to relax.

"Sure," The group answered. Twilight put away her four testing crystals, Luna returned the dark crystal, and the group relaxed as they let the day's exhaustion pass over them.