Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

Sleeping deeply, Julius barely moved the rest of the night. Julius scarcely made a move or sound during the whole night. A refreshing change, to be sure. While he didn't snore as loudly as Rainbow Dash, Julius did still snore. But, deep in sleep, Julius had a peaceful, restful sleep.

"-Up," A feminine voice said. "Wake up," the voice once again said. "Julius, wake up!" The voice commanded as something shook Julius.

"Five more minutes," Julius moaned.

"You said five more minutes five minutes ago," the voice firmly told Julius, who was already back asleep. "Oh, to tartarus with this," the voice sighed. "Julius, I'm coming in." There was nothing but a watery void in Julius's dreamscape, like a pristine crystal lake; Julius seemed to be floating in the dream lake. "JULIUS, IT IS TIME TO WAKE UP!" Luna commanded in the Royal Canterlot Voice as she stared at Julius's dream form.

"Luna?" Julius tiredly asked. "What are you doing here? You know how I feel about you just barging in on my dreams," Julius told Luna. "I mean, seriously, if you keep doing that, then soon enough, you'll get scarred for life," Julius told Luna as he floated in the dream lake.

"I doubt that; I've seen some dark things," Luna told Julius as she flew right over him. "I tried to wake you up from outside, but you weren't waking up, so now I'm here," Luna explained to Julius.

"Why are you trying to wake me up? You know I had a long day and a long night last night," Julius asked as his eyes narrowed at Luna.

"Yes, yes, I'm aware," Luna sighed, "but I do believe that you have a road trip with the Apples today," Luna reminded Julius.

"Wait, that's today?" Julius said in shock while Luna nodded her head. "What time is it?"

"It's almost seven," Luna told Julius, whose eyes shot open.

"I have to wake up!" Julius said in a quick panic as his dreamscape started to fade away. Then, shooting up, Julius swiftly moved to get out of bed.

"I see that got you awake," Luna chuckled as Julius got dressed in a panic.

"Yeah, Applejack can be a bit of a slave driver," Julius responded as he stumbled over himself as he got dressed. "She'd kill me if I were late," Julius said as Luna gave him a sideways look. "Well, not literally, but you know," Julius cleared up for Luna as he stumbled into the kitchen.

"For you, this is early. Hopefully, you're not feeling too surly," Zecora remarked at seeing Julius awake.

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash followed up, herself only being slightly more awake than Julius. "We're just finishing up breakfast. We saved you some," she told him as Rainbow finished her last pancake.

"We made them with some berries from the Everfree," Twilight said, her plate long since empty. "They're delicious. Honestly, I didn't think that the Everfree had such good fruits," Twilight smiled before she took her plate to the sink.

"Yeah, the Everfree is like that," Julius quickly said as he sat down at the table. "Where are the leftovers?" Julius asked in a slight panic.

"Forgive him," Luna said as she sat down at the table. "Julius is in a hurry to get to Sweet Apple Acres. He has to go on a road trip with the Apple siblings," Luna explained as she levitated some pancakes over.

"I'm sure they're aware," Julius said before quickly taking a bite out of one of the pancakes.

"Is something wrong?" Rainbow Dash asked as she looked at Julius.

"Agreed. I understand that sleep is what you need. But even for this early hour. Your voice sounds rather sour," Zecora followed up as she and Twilight stared at Julius.

"Oh, there's a reason, Luna knows why," Julius told the three while Luna looked away. "If you want to know, ask Luna about the thestrals," Julius said, much to Luna's shock.

"What's a thestral?" Rainbow Dash and Twilight asked.

"I'd tell you, but Luna is far more fit to explain. Isn't that right?" Julius asked while looking right at Luna.

"I must confess. About these thestrals, I could know no less. More is what I'd like to know. Princess of the night, could you make it so?" Zecora requested while looking at Luna.

"Give me some time to wake up," Luna sighed as she started to eat her breakfast. "Not exactly how I wanted this to come to light," Luna sighed as she looked at Julius.

"Yes, you wanted me to ask about something that I didn't know existed," Julius rolled his eyes as he ate his breakfast.

"Uhhh, girls," Rainbow Dash started to say, "why do I have the feeling that we're missing something here?" Rainbow Dash asked while the other two mares nodded.

"You are," Julius said as he quickly finished his breakfast. "Luna will fill you in. I would, but I have to go," Julius said in a rush as he bolted up from his seat and made for the door. "Thank you for breakfast!" Julius thanked right as he left Zecora's house. Then, rushing swiftly through the Everfree, Julius made near-record time in making it to Ponyville.

As he entered Ponyville alone, Julius noticed how much different things were while he wasn't with any of the mares of his herd. Ponies stayed just a little more clear of him, their whispers just a little louder. It felt strange. By no means was Ponyville a small place, not large, merely average, but it felt colder than the other days. Had Julius the spare time, he'd question it more, but as it was, he'd be lucky to make it to Sweet Apple Acres with any time to spare. Swiftly going through the streets, Julius ignored the ponies that seemed to be avoiding him. Making his way through the gates to Sweet Apple Acres, Julius saw four ponies. The three Apple siblings and another pony, a mint-colored pony.

"But I was told that he was here," the mint-colored pony told the Apples.

"Yes, Julius does work here, but he doesn't live here," Applejack told the mare as her eyes narrowed. "Speaking of," Applejack said, her voice trailing off, "you're late," Applejack said, sounding very annoyed.

"Yeah, yeah, sorry," Julius panted. "I had a rough night. I just woke up about an hour ago," Julius panted as he caught his breath. "Oh, uhhh, Lyra, was it?" Julius asked as he spotted the other mare.

"Oh good, you remembered my name," Lyra said, sounding pleased.

"If you two don't mind, we have to get going! Lyra, you can ask Julius about that thing when we get back. And away from Apple Bloom," Applejack told Lyra.

"Why away from me?" Apple Bloom whined. "I'm old enough for anything!" Apple Bloom proudly stated.

"Apple Bloom, please, don't be in a rush to grow up," Applejack and Julius said in unison while Lyra looked on.

"Julius," Lyra said as she walked up to him. "When you get back, can you come to Sweetie Drops' Candies?" Lyra requests of him. "I'd say more, but I'd like to avoid a bucking from Applejack," Lyra joked before she walked off.

"Did she want -" Julius started to say.

"Eeyup," Applejack and Big Mac both cut him off.

"Really? Nice," Julius said, smirking while nodding his head.

"Enough about that nonsense," Applejack commandingly said as she walked beside Big Mac. "We've wasted enough time! Goldie Delicious is waiting," Applejack reminded Julius. "Let's get a move on," Applejack said as she and Big Mac started to walk off, with Apple Bloom and Julius following closely behind. The group took a different path out of Ponyville than the one Julius took to get to Sweet Apple Acres. It was a moderately small, nondescript dirt road with no adornments.

"So, where are the street lamps?" Julius asked as the group walked down the road. "And the drainage, and the pavement? Where is the road work?" Julius continued to ask as the group continued down the road.

"Remember Ponyville," Applejack reminded Julius as she walked beside Big Mac.

"Well, yeah, I just ran through there on my way to Sweet Apple Acres. But this is somehow worse," Julius remarked as he kicked a stone off the dirt road.

"Well then, if it bothers you that much," Applejack started to chuckle, "put in a word about it to the princesses. I seem to recall you being close to one of them," Applejack said as she winked at Big Mac.

"Yeah, that's on hold for a bit," Julius sighed as he breathed in the fresh countryside air. "Some things have happened," Julius wistfully sighed.

"What happened?" Apple Bloom quickly asked, her voice steeped in concern.

"I suppose nothing too serious. Luna screwed up, and I overreacted. I need some time to get my thoughts about things in order. But, honestly, this trip will be good for that," Julius told the three ponies as he picked one of the flowers.

"Princess Luna screwed up? How? She's a princess," Apple Bloom asked, surprised at what she had just heard.

"She had the best of intentions, I think. But I didn't like how it happened," Julius said as he scratched the back of his neck.

"OK," Applejack said, her voice slightly trailing off. "That doesn't explain anything," Applejack told Julius.

"Tell me," Julius started to say, "have any of you ever heard of thestrals?"

"Nope," all three ponies replied.

"Do you know about any other pony tribes?" Julius asked the three.

"Hmmm," the three ponies thought in unison.

"Oh, I know!" Apple Bloom energetically said. "Vampire ponies!"

"Apple Bloom," Applejack sighed, "vampire ponies don't exist. That's just an old mare's story Granny told ya," Applejack sighed as she shook her head.

"I want to hear about these vampire ponies," Julius told the ponies.

"Well," Apple Bloom started to say, "vampire ponies are the dark worshippers of Nightmare Moon. They're said to look like pegasi, only with bat wings and fangs. They only come out at night because they can't stand the sunlight. If you're out at night, all alone, then a vampire pony will swoop down and suck your blood!" Apple Bloom energetically explained.

"Don't listen to her," Applejack sighed while rolling her eyes, "vampire ponies don't exist."

"You're right; they don't," Julius sighed while rubbing his eyes. "The thestrals probably aren't happy about that," Julius said as he shook his head.

"There's that name again," Applejack said at hearing Julius mention thestrals. "Who are these thestrals?" Applejack asked as the group walked along the road.

"Well, those vampire ponies are likely based on the thestrals. They are a forsaken pony tribe. They look exactly how you described vampire ponies," Julius started to explain.

"YOU'VE SEEN A VAMPIRE PONY!" Applebloom excitedly exclaimed while bouncing around Julius.

"No, I've met a thestral," Julius told the excited filly. "As for the sun and drinking blood, I'm not sure, but I highly doubt it. No idea who this Nightmare Moon is, but I can assure you that they don't worship her," Julius lightly laughed. "They do, however, recognize Luna as both their Queen and Goddess," Julius told the three, who stopped in shock.

"Wait just one moment," Applejack said as she walked up to Julius. "Just how have you met one of these thestrals? And why haven't we heard anything other than rumors about them?" Applejack asked while staring Julius down.

"Well, my stalker was a thestral, well, a thestral and a reformed changeling. I met them last night," Julius told them while rolling his left wrist. "No, I don't want to talk about it," Julius quickly followed up. "As for not hearing anything about them, I'm guessing that has to do with the great treachery. It's something that happened a thousand moons ago," Julius explained to the ponies, who just nervously looked at each other. Seeing their looks, Julius stared right at Applejack. "Really? Does everypony know what this was except me?" Julius lightly laughed with derision.

"Look," Applejack started to say.

"It's just that Luna is worried about what you'll think of her," Applejack and Julius both said, both in nearly the same voice.

"Yeah, I've heard that one before," Julius quickly followed up.

"It's just that what happened is very bad," again both Applejack and Julius both said, Julius with a slightly tired look on his face.

"Again, heard it before," Julius sighed while rolling his eyes. "I suppose if I want to learn about what happened, I'll have to show Luna that it won't matter," Julius said, deep in thought.

"What do you have in mind?" Applejack asked. "Watch your head, sugarcube," Applejack said as she pulled Julius's head down, causing him to miss getting hit by a tree branch.

"AH! And thanks," Julius exclaimed while rubbing the back of his neck. "I have something in mind," Julius said while taking an intense breath. "I might have to tell her more about human history," Julius deeply sighed.

"How would that make anything better?" Applejack asked as she gave Julius an odd look. "Everything you've said made it sound like your world is a paradise," Applejack told Julius as the group came ever closer to Goldie Delicious's house.

"Yes, I know. That was intentional," Julius sighed. "Look, I've intentionally only told everypony the best parts, leaving out the worst. Trust me; our worst is truly horrific," Julius explained to the ponies.

"Oh, come on," Applejack reassuringly said. "I'm sure it's not that bad," Applejack said comfortingly.

"When was Equestria's last war?" Julius immediately asked.

"Ummm, I'm not sure," Applejack said while thinking.

"The Crystal Liberation War," Big Mac said. "One thousand seventy-five moons ago."

"He lives!" Julius exclaimed. "And he talks!" Julius laughed. "Not sure how long a moon is, but I'm guessing it's a while. Look, I won't say much, but we had several wars going on before I came to this world," Julius told the three ponies.

"That's impossible," Applejack laughed, "you made your world sound so perfect," she continued to laugh. "You're lying, right," Applejack said while looking right at a stone-faced Julius. "Right?" Applejack asked, this time sounding somewhat nervous. "You're not lying," Applejack flatly said as she looked into Julius's eyes.

"Yeah, I'm not," Julius rather solemnly said. "I won't say more than that, well, I will, but only to Luna and Celestia," Julius sighed as a house came into view.

"There it is!" Apple Bloom blurted out. "There's Golden Delicious's place!" Apple Bloom excitedly said as she started to dart ahead. The other three just shrugged before following the energetic filly. The three followed after the filly and quickly caught up. Walking up to the door, Julius went to knock on it before Applejack pulled him to the side.

"Don't stand in front of Goldie's door," Applejack firmly told Julius. "Never stand in front of Goldie's door."

"Why?" Julius asked as Big Mac, and Apple Bloom walked to the same side Julius was on. Knocking on the door, Applejack swiftly dove to the other side. A soft rumbling could be heard inside the house before an avalanche of assorted nicknacks and cats spewed out from the doorway.

"Now that's how you make an entrance!" An elderly voice exclaimed. "Or is it an exit?" The voice asked as an elderly mare dug herself out of the mess of nicknacks and felines.

"I-is that a tiger?" Julius said, barely able to contain his shock while backing up.

"Rest assure, young'un, she's more scared of you than you are of her," the elderly mare said as she looked towards Julius. "Well, aren't you a biggun!" The mare exclaimed upon seeing Julius. "Seeing as you're with my kin, I'm guessing that you're a good type. If not, I'm going to have to talk with that sister of mine," the elderly mare asked as she approached Julius. "I'm Goldie Delicious, a pleasure," Goldie introduced herself as she neared Julius.

"I'm Julius, a pleasure to meet you," Julius returned the greeting.

"Goldie," Applejack spoke up, "we came here to learn about our parents and our grandparents."

"Oh," Goldie said, sounding a little sad. "So that time has finally come," Goldie sighed. "Well, I can't tell you much," Goldie said while looking at the avalanche. "Stripes there is laying on the book. But I'll tell you what I can remember," Goldie said as she took a few deep breaths.

"Thank you, Goldie," Applejack thanked as she, Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and Julius sat down on the ground.

"Well, now, your father's parents aren't anything too special. Granny is an Apple, always has been, always will be. Your grandfather, well," Goldie started to giggle.

"Goldie, please, stay focused. There's a filly here," Julius said as he got an approving nod from Applejack and Big Mac.

"Right, your grandfather was a nice stallion from Vanhoover. If I remember, he was from a baker family," Goldie said as she tried to search her memory. "Your father, Bright Mac, well, you know all about him. A real quality stallion if ever there was one," Goldie sighed as she met the gazes of the listening group. "It's your mother you're interested in, isn't it?" Goldie sighed. "Of course, you know her as Buttercup, but that was just a nickname your father gave her. Pear Butter was her real name," Goldie told the group, to which a smile broke on Julius's face.

"Told you!" Julius smiled mirthfully at the shocked Apple siblings.

"No, you said that our grandfather was a Pear," Applejack corrected.

"Semantics," Julius brushed off.

"How'd you guess that?" Goldie asked as she walked up to Julius.

"Oh, I saw Applejack and Big Mac buck down pears from a pear tree. Well, to be fair, I taunted them into it," Julius told Goldie.

"I see," Goldie said. "I wish I could tell you more, but with Stripes there on the book, I can't," Goldie said as she looked at the tiger.

"Hey Julius," Applejack said while looking at him. "Don't suppose you want to get the book?" Applejack asked before she started to laugh.

"Really? Are you really asking me to fight a tiger? A tiger; of all things, a tiger, really?" Julius asked in surprise. "No, I have no intention of fighting a tiger. I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to leave here and not fight the tiger. I'm going to get something to eat, and then I will not fight the tiger. I will figure out how to deal with the whole situation I'm in, and then I will not fight the tiger. I will tend to my herd, and then I will not fight the tiger. I will go to sleep, then wake up, and then I will not fight the tiger!" Julius firmly explained to Applejack.

"Relax, sugarcube, I was joking," Applejack laughed. "Thank you for telling us about our mother," Applejack thanked.

"Thank you, Goldie," the other two ponies thanked.

"You're quite welcome," Goldie happily responded. "Oh, I just remembered something. Your father was very close friends with Burnt Oak. And your mother was close friends with Mrs. Cake. You should talk to them if you want to learn more about your parents," Goldie suggests to the group.

"We will. Thank you so much, Goldie," Applejack thanked as the ponies got ready to leave.

"We're just going to leave?" Julius asked as he looked at the avalanche of nicknacks.

"Don't worry about me, young'un; I'll be fine," Goldie assured as she and a bunch of cats started to clean up the mess.

"Well, if you insist," Julius said as he followed after the Apple siblings. "A pleasure meeting you," Julius said as he bade Goldie farewell.

"And a pleasure meeting you too, young'un," Goldie bade back as she and her cats cleaned up the mess.

"So, what now?" Julius asked the Apple siblings as they started on their journey back to Ponyville.

"Well, I reckon that us three will spend the rest of the day learning about our parents," Applejack said, to which the other two ponies nodded. "As for you, well, you should go see Lyra; and you should figure out this whole thing that's eating at you," Applejack recommended.

"I will, and I plan on it," Julius confirmed with Applejack. "Thanks for the day off; I needed it. It really helped to clear my head," Julius thanked as he walked slightly behind Applejack.

"Thank you for getting us to go on this trip," Applejack thanked Julius back.

"Yeah!" Apple Bloom happily exclaimed. "Thanks to that, we know that we're half Pear! Oh, maybe my cutie mark will be a pear and an apple mixed as a new fruit!" Apple Bloom energetically exclaimed while the other three chuckled. And so, the four made their way back to Ponyville, enjoying the scenery as they were mentally preparing for the rest of their day.