Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

Julius groggily made his way through the moonlit forest. Sure his mind was awake, but his body sure wasn't; from both the day's work and the little rest, Julius felt like his body was made out of bricks. His heavy feet fell on the forest floor with a near reckless thud, one that Julius hasn't let happen in quite some time. Making his way down the path, Julius picked up several different berries, fruits, and flowers that he knew he could eat. Sure there didn't do much, but every bit helped restore his energy; every bite refreshed him, if only slightly. Juices, sour and sweet, flooded his mouth from the fruit while the flowers helped clean up the mess and toned down the myriad of tastes. It would almost be pleasant if only he had time to stop and enjoy it, maybe make a tea out of it.

"Almost there," Julius sighed, more awake now than before. Approaching the clearing by the lake, Julius stopped before breaking the treeline. Surveying the area, Julius noticed how quiet it was. Even at night, the forest wasn't supposed to be this quiet; it was eerie. Collecting himself for a few moments, Julius gathered his strength and energy before walking into the middle of the clearing. "Alright, I'm here," Julius said as he stood on guard in the middle of the clearing. "Now, give me my answers!" Julius commanded. Short moments later, something pounded into Julius's back, sending him hard to the ground.

"Come now, messir, you did not think answers would come that easily, did you? I did say that you'd be tested, didn't I?" The voice chuckled with mirth. "Come now, messir, The Divine Mistress, has such high expectations for you," the voice seemingly taunted. "Surely you can do better," it laughed and taunted while Julius laid on the ground.

"This. Proves. Nothing." Julius said through gritted teeth. Gathering his breath, Julius started to stand back up. A few short moments after getting to his feet, the same force slams into Julius's back, sending him tumbling back to the ground.

"Come now, messir," the voice started to laugh, "you are supposed to be a lover of mares, not a lover of dirt. Or mayhaps you've added dirt to your paramours?" The voice laughed as Julius gathered himself.

"Oh shut up, you stupid stealthy twat," Julius grunted as he picked himself up off the ground. Bracing himself for an attack, Julius found that none came. Slowly standing, Julius started to count mentally. Once again, a strong force slammed into his back and sent him hurtling to the ground. Panting intensely, Julius closed his eyes, a smirk starting to form on his face. Bracing himself as best he could, Julius stood back up, ready to take a hit.

"Not running, you have more guts than most ponies," the voice complimented, "but that doesn't mean that you're wise," the voice chastised. Shortly after the admonishment, the same force sent Julius back to the ground.

"There's where you're wrong," Julius quietly said, grinning as he hit the ground. Sure he took a good hit, but one he was expecting, one he was prepared for. Rolling through the fall, Julius stood right back up and started to count in his head. At the count of three, Julius swiftly turned around and grabbed at the air with both hands. Grabbing onto a hoof with each hand, Julius spun his body around before slamming the creature hard into the ground. Sure it seemed to be invisible, but it still had a form. Swiftly mounting the creature, Julius smirked down at the shimmering form.

"Good showing," the creature coughed as its shimmering form became apparent. It looked like a pegasus but with bat wings and slimmer, the same musculature, though.

"Maybe, but I'm not so convinced," a different voice said; this one almost sounds like a young British lady, only with a slight wispiness to her voice. Hearing the sound of flames from behind him, Julius turned his head around to see a glossy red ponylike creature running right towards him.

"Answers later," Julius quickly said before delivering a solid chop to the back of the batpony's neck, knocking it out. Julius had just enough time to dodge the barreling glossy pony. "So, are you this Divine Mistress?" Julius asked as he prepared himself.

"You do me far too much credit. No, I am not the Maiden of Mercy," The creature said as it prepared to attack.

"That only adds questions!" Julius yelled in exasperation. He only had a moment before the figure was upon him. Like with the batpony, Julius grabbed this one's hoof. "Nice try, but you'll never hit me like that," Julius smirked.

"Agreed, a change is in order, don't you think," the glossy pony grinned. Azure flames surrounded the glossy pony, the flames caressing Julius's arm. While looking like fire, they were actually quite cool. Julius didn't have time to be surprised as the hoof in his hand changed its shape. Keeping his grip firm, Julius saw eyes that were all too familiar to him. "Is this more to your taste?" The same voice said, but this time, it came from a somewhat androgynous, naked female human. Julius had no time to be distracted as she tried to deliver a stiff knee to his stomach.

"What the fuck!" Julius exclaimed in surprise as he blocked her knee with his own. "If you think cheap tricks will help you, then you have another thing coming!" Julius said, anger in his voice as he placed one of his legs behind the fake human. Twisting his body and sweeping his leg, Julius tripped the fake human while falling on top of her.

"Nice trick," the fake human says as she falls. Upon hitting the ground, familiar blue flames surround her and Julius as she once again changes form, taking the form of a pony, only larger; the shapeshifter bucked Julius right off her. Landing hard near the lake, Julius collected himself for a brief moment. Julius then quickly rolled to the side, barely dodging a pouncing stomp.

"Piss off!" Julius grunted as he punched up into the shapeshifter's stomach; this hit connected. Sliding a hand up, Julius grabbed the winded shapeshifter's wing and threw her into the lake. "Where's my staff, where's my staff," Julius quietly repeated to himself, trying to find his staff. Taking the little time he had, Julius started to search around the prone batpony. "There you are!" Julius exclaimed as he grabbed his staff. Taking a strong sigh of relief, Julius turned around to see a large spout of water burst forth from the lake. A light mist fell upon the clearing as the shapeshifter was in her original form. Flying down swiftly at Julius, the shapeshifter flew down, her hoof in front of her, ready to dive-bomb Julius.

Had he'd been faster, Julius could have countered, but fatigue and desperation clouded his mind. Instead of stabbing at the shapeshifter with his staff, Julius threw a powerful punch forward. Hoof met fist as the two limbs slammed into each other. As fist and hoof bounced off each other, both human and shapeshifter recoiled in pain. If there was one thing Julius was thankful for, it was that the shapeshifter wasn't wearing horseshoes or anything like that. Sure his left hand was severely scrapped and hurt immensely, but it could have been worse.

"By the stars, what are you made out of?" The shapeshifter asked as she limped on the ground, not letting her throbbing hoof touch the ground.

"Harder stuff than you," Julius firmly said as he brought his staff down on the shapeshifter's back. Sending the shapeshifter to the ground, Julius flourished his staff, bringing the tip of it right before the creature's face. "Convinced now?" Julius asked as he glared down at the creature.

"Stars curse you, Anya, this wasn't your mission," the batpony seemingly cursed as he got up.

"Maybe not, but I didn't want poor little Onyx getting all the fun," Anya laughed as she struggled to get up, her back aching with pain.

"OK, what's going on here?" Julius asked as he nursed his left hand. "Did I pass the test? Who are all of you? What are all of you? Who or what is this Divine Mistress and Maiden of Mercy?" Julius started asking while eyeing both of the creatures.

"One question at a time, messir," Onyx said as he shook his head. "First, yes, you passed the test. You passed when you caught me. Anya's interference wasn't supposed to happen," Onyx said while shooting Anya a sharp glare for a moment.

"Hey, I wasn't ordered to stay out of it either," Ayna chuckled while shaking her injured hoof.

"You know what they meant," Onyx said as he turned to look at Julius. "As for our names, well, I'm guessing that you figured out that I am Onyx, and she is Anya. Full names are Onyx Glowerwing, and she's Anya Suthersell," Onyx said as he gestured to Anya, who spared only a short curtsy before going back to tending her hoof. "As for The Divine Mistress and the Maiden of Mercy, they are the same being. You know her as Princess Luna," Onyx explained as Julius's eyes went a little wide.

"Luna? Wait. Did she order you to spy on me?!?" Julius nearly shouted in surprise.

"Not at all messir," Onyx laughed. "No, your observation was ordered by the coventress, the leader of our coven's council," Onyx explained to a baffled Julius.

"OK, well, how long was I being watched for, and how does Luna fit into this?" Julius asked.

"I spotted you nearly a month ago," Anya said as she tried her hoof. "At that time, you were doing a bunch of weird things in the Everfree Forest, like breaking branches and hitting trees," Anya explained. "After the manticore attack, the coventress ordered you to be watched," Anya explained.

"YOU'VE BEEN WATCHING ME SINCE DAY ONE?!?" Julius shouted in surprise. "WHY DIDN'T YOU HELP WITH THE MANTICORE?" Julius shouted with anger.

"You were unknown at the time, it was too dangerous. If you had fallen there, then I would have hit the manticore with some sedative. Then transport you back to the coven, where you'd likely be placed in a secure place and given medical care," Anya explained to a glaring Julius. "Fortunately you got to Zecora's house, and I didn't have to swoop in to save you."

"Please understand, messir, we're in a somewhat compromised position. We have been for the past thousand moons. We may be more cautious than the Equestrians, but we are more welcoming to those who need it," Onyx started to explain. "Tell me, do you know what either of us are?" Onyx asked as he and Anya stared at Julius.

"A batpony and a shapeshifter," Julius said right back.

"We prefer Thestrals, but yes," Onyx said as he gestured to Anya. "She, however, is a Changeling," Onyx said as he pointed a hoof at the glossy red mare.

"Don't listen to those Equestrians; Changelings can be good," Anya said as she put more and more weight on her hoof.

"Messir, understand, Thestrals are outcasts. We haven't been a part of Equestria since the great treachery a thousand moons ago. Reformed Changelings are in a similar state," Onyx told Julius.

"OK," Julius said, too exhausted to argue. "So, how does Luna fit into all of this?" Julius asked as he sat down on the ground.

"The Divine Mistress is our Queen, our Goddess," Onyx told Julius.

"The Maiden of Mercy is the first Equestrian noble who seriously wanted to try to reform Changelings," Anya told Julius. "One thousand twenty moons ago, she had an idea, take in Changelings that didn't want to live in the way that the hive did. The Equestrians dragged their hoofs on it, then the great treachery happened. Equestria abandoned that idea, but the Thestrals kept it. To honor her memory, we call her The Maiden of Mercy," Anya explained to Julius.

"Interesting," Julius said, "why haven't I heard anything about any of this?" Julius asked as he laid back.

"Messir, you'll find that Equestria has forgotten most of its older history. Of that which is remembered, it's usually carefully picked," Onyx told Julius. "Something I suspect you have experience in," Onyx said while he and Anya gave Julius a knowing look. "Now, if you don't mind my asking, why have you never asked about us?" Onyx asked while looking Julius down.

"I never knew that you existed. No creature said anything about either of you, " Julius said. "Well, Zecora told me about changelings, but never anything about good ones," Julius said as Onyx walked closer to him.

"Really," Onyx sighed. "The Divine Mistress spoke highly of you, and that is what you tell me?" Onyx said, almost sounding insulted. "Think back. Remember what the solar tyrant told you about magic affinities," Onyx nearly spit out, venom evident in his voice. "How each tribe has their own element."

"Yeah, Earth belongs to the Earth Ponies, Air to the Pegasi, and Fire to the Unicorns," Julius said.

"Forgetting something," Onyx asked, "maybe something wet," he said while looking right at Julius.

"Wait, if your element is Water, why didn't anypony say anything?" Julius asked as he realized what Onyx was getting at.

"I'm not sure if you noticed, but us Thestrals and that monster don't like each other," Onyx spat as he walked up to Julius. "The other ponies likely haven't heard of us before; as for The Divine Mistress, she didn't say anything because she wanted you to ask about it. Ask about who had Water as their element. She was disappointed when you didn't," Onyx told Julius.

"I see," Julius said as he used his magic to heal his left hand. "Luna and I will have to talk at some point," Julius sighed. "So, before I leave to go back to Zecora's, I have to ask, what's with the hatred towards Celestia? I mean, I know I'm missing something, but I don't know what," Julius asked as he got ready to stand up.

"I am sorry messir, The Divine Mistress doesn't want you to know. Just know that what that monster did was unforgivable," Onyx spat with fiery venom.

"Goddamnit!" Julius exclaimed, "I really want to know what happened. It's going to be affecting me after all," Julius almost pouted.

"Why's that?" Onyx asked as Anya walked over.

"Let's just say, the Maiden of Mercy name needs a replacement for 'Maiden,'" Julius chuckled as Anya started to walk up to him.

"Be that as it may, that will still be her title to us," Anya said as she walked right up to Julius. "A little healing, please," Anya requested as she presented her injured hoof to Julius.

"I'll see what I can do," Julius said as he started to heal Anya's hoof. "Aren't you surprised by what I said?" Julius asked as he used the little magical energy he had remaining to heal Anya's hoof.

"Why would I be?" Anya asked as she felt her hoof getting better. "She's a grown mare with grown mare needs. Besides, you're packing quite a fearsome monster in there. It makes sense for the monster slayer to tame that beast," Anya joked as she looked right at Julius's crotch.

"It was a surprise to be sure when we found out that The Divine Mistress took a paramour, but we're happy that she is finding happiness; she deserves it," Onyx said in agreement.

"So, you're saying it was a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one?" Julius asked, a stupid grin on his face.

"A little awkward if you say it like that, but more or less," Onyx said while giving Julius a wry look.

"Oh, never mind. You won't know the meme joy of that grand space opera," Julius told the two equines, who just looked at each other and shrugged. Sighing, Julius sent down Anya's hoof, having done all he could. "I, I think I'm tapped," Julius panted as he struggled to stand up.

"Come on, you big lug," Anya chuckled as she walked up to Julius's side. "Up you go," Anya said as she and Onyx pressed up against Julius's sides. Helping Julius up, the two equines stayed by Julius's sides while he steadied himself, using his staff to help support himself.

"It looks like you're wholly exhausted, messir," Onyx said as he stood beside Julius. "Let us help you back to Zecora's house," Onyx told Julius as the two equines walked beside Julius.

"Well, this was a quick turnaround," Julius lightly laughed. "You really don't have any bad feelings towards me?" Julius asked as the two helped him back down the path.

"Messir, we never did," Onyx said as the group walked down the path. "The stalking, as you called it, was just us following orders. We have to protect the coven, and our coven is close," Onyx told Julius. "We understand, though, that you probably do have some sour feelings, messir," Onyx sighed as the three walked down the barely visible path.

"Good, cause I do. I'm just too exhausted to show it," Julius yawned. "Bad feelings can wait until tomorrow," Julius once again yawned.

"Understandable," Anya said as she picked a flower. "Most creatures don't take well to being watched from the shadows," Anya said as she ate the flower, honey-tasting petals tickling her tongue.

"So you'll stop then?" Julius hopefully asked. The two equines looked at each other before sharing a light chuckle.

"I am afraid, messir, that would be quite impossible," Onyx flatly told Julius. "You live in the Everfree, the backyard of my coven. If that wasn't enough, The Divine Mistress has taken you as a paramour," Onyx told Julius, who just rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, messir, you haven't been judged as a threat. As long as that stays true, you don't have anything to worry about," Onyx assures Julius.

"Yeah, think of us as your guardians in the shadows," Anya winks while lightly, playfully nudging Julius's side.

"Yeah, sure," Julius said unamused. "So, just how much about me did you know?" Julius asked as they continued down the path.

"Everything," both Onyx and Anya tell Julius as Anya gives Julius a small fruit.

"When you say everything..." Julius says, trailing off as he took a bite of the fruit.

"Oh, we mean everything," Anya smiles with a wink. "Your magic, your relationships, your knowledge, well as much as anycreature here knows, and," Anya says while licking her lips, "your body," Anya breathily said to Julius.

"Anya cut it out; the poor stallion is exhausted enough," Onyx told Anya while rolling his eyes. "It is true, though; we know just about everything about you that you've told and shown to the ponies," Onyx confirmed.

"Well, geez, it's nice to know that my stalkers are thorough," Julius jokingly laughed. "So I suppose I don't have to catch you up on anything, do it?" Julius asked, too exhausted to really care what he was talking about.

"Not really, no," Onyx confirmed. "Though we would like to know more about your kind and your kind's history," Onyx told Julius.

"Really? Well, I want to know more about this thing that happened a thousand moons ago. I guess we all get to wonder, don't we?" Julius tries to shoot back, but it gets ruined by his yawning.

"Fair enough," Onyx sighed.

"You want to know badly, don't you?" Anya said as Onyx gave her a sharp look. "Don't worry, I won't tell him what happened," Anya tells Onyx to dissuade his worries. "The Maiden of Mercy is just worried about what you'll think of it, of her," Anya told Julius.

"She shouldn't be," Julius yawned, "human history isn't very pleasant," Julius yawned again as Zecora's house came into view.

"Guessing that we'll have to take your word on that for now," Onyx said as he spotted Zecora's house. "For now, though, we must depart. We trust that you can make it back from here?" Onyx asks as Zecora's home was very clearly in view.

"Yes, I'll be fine," Julius yawned. "Well, until we meet again," Julius yawned as he walked towards the treehouse.

"Probably in a few nights, a week at the most," Anya said as the two equines walked off into the Everfree Forest.

Entering Zecora's home, Julius spotted Luna, sphere gone, looking right at him.

"I'm too tired for this right now," Julius yawned as he met Luna's gaze. "Later, we're going to talk, though," Julius powerfully yawned as he stumbled into the house. Luna's magic enveloped him as Julius set his staff down.

"I know. For now, though rest easy, I'll carry you to bed," Luna told Julius as he faded to sleep, wrapped in the embrace of Luna's magic while the mare levitated Julius into the bed with the other mares.