Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

Rolling out of Lyra's bed, Julius walked to the attached bathroom.

"Hey Lyra, want me to bring you a towel or something?" Julius asked as he looked for a towel.

"Yes, please," Lyra cooed from comfort as she nuzzled into her blankets.

"Alright," Julius responded as he ruffled through Lyra's bathroom. He found many washcloths, some worn clothes, even panties, but no towels, not until Julius pulled back the thin curtain by the bathtub. "Every time, the last place you look," Julius sighed as he grabbed two towels and two washcloths. Wetting the washcloths with warm water, Julius cleaned himself up, placed the towel and washcloths into the laundry basket, and brought the clean ones to Lyra.

"Sorry, my bathroom is a little messy," Lyra lightly laughed as she took the damp washcloth and tower from Julius.

"It's a bathroom; it's fine," Julius waved off as Lyra cleaned herself up.

"True," Lyra awkwardly laughed. "I'd love to keep you for the day, but I imagine you have things to do," Lyra said while awkwardly rubbing the back of her neck.

"I mean somewhat. I do have some business with Luna, well, a fair bit, but one of those things can't be done until night," Julius chuckled back.

"Must be important," Lyra yawned while cleaning herself up.

"One is very important. The one that we can only do at night, well, that's more of a personal interest," Julius told Lyra, who was toweling herself off.

"I understand, believe me," Lyra lightly laughed. "Guessing one of those things is about some tension between you two. I'm not going to pretend to understand the Princess of the Night, but I'm sure she has a good reason for whatever caused tension between you two. If you caused it, I'm sure you had a good reason," Lyra comforted as she placed the towel and washcloth in the laundry.

"I suppose, in a way, we're both responsible," Julius lightly laughed. "Short of it, Luna did something that I didn't like, and I didn't take it well. Still, though, some time away has done me good. So, thank you, Lyra, this has really been what I needed," Julius smiled while lightly petting her mane.

"Hah, I guess you should be paying me then," Lyra started to laugh, "the bits are in the bag on the dresser," Lyra told Julius as she began to stretch out her body.

"Alright," Julius responded as he walked to the dresser. "You know, you don't have to pay me. I have literally no expenses," Julius somewhat exaggeratedly said as he grabbed the bag.

"Maybe, but you can use it to buy yourself something nice," Lyra winked. "Besides, not paying a stallion that serviced you is always poor form," Lyra explained as Julius counted out the bits.

"I see," Julius blankly said as he counted the bits. Several minutes of mental counting passed before Julius turned to look at Lyra. "You sure this is right? There're more than six hundred bits here," Julius told Lyra as he counted the bits for the third time.

"Should be six hundred fifty bits," Lyra said while stretching, "why, is the cost different where you're from?"

"I'm, uhhh, I'm not sure. But that many bits, well, seems like a bit much," Julius stammered. "Hey Lyra, I have an idea!" Julius chirped. "We can do this whenever I have free time; you only pay one hundred bits, and, later, I can call in a favor," Julius suggested.

"That's awfully generous," Lyra said with some suspicion, "what kind of favor?" Lyra asked with growing suspicion.

"I don't want to say anything yet; I could be wrong about things. But if all goes as I think things will go, then how would you feel helping out Rarity?" Julius asked as he took a hundred bits from the bag.

"Well, Rarity has made me quite a few costumes, as you can see. I suppose I wouldn't be opposed to it, but I don't see how she'd need my help," Lyra conceded.

"Trust me; I have an idea," Julius said as he took another twenty bits from the bag. "Hope you don't mind, but I took another twenty bits from the bag," Julius said as he started to laugh. "I just realized I don't have anything to put the bits in," Julius laughed as he shook his head.

"I got a spare bits bag," Lyra said as she levitated a light blue pouch with a deep red drawstring attached. "It's a bit old, but it's still perfectly fine," Lyra assured as she gave the bag to Julius.

"Looks good to me," Julius smiled as he filled the bag with the bits. "Well, I better get back to Zecora's place; this was nice; we should do it again," Julius suggested with a wink.

"If you're only going to ask for a hundred or so bits, maybe I'll look for you tomorrow," Lyra winked at Julius as he left Lyra's room. Walking down the stairs and into the candy shop, Julius started to look at a few candies.

"I see you have a bit bag now," Bon Bon said while looking Julius over, "it seems a bit light, though," Bon Bon said while narrowing her gaze.

"Yeah, Lyra wanted to give me over six hundred bits. I don't need anywhere near that much, so I only took a hundred and some change," Julius said as he looked over some very colorful candies. "Any suggestions?"

"That's very generous," Bon Bon said as she looked at a few of the candies Julius was looking at, "do you like sour candies?" Bon Bon asked as she saw Julius looking at a few yellow candies.

"I could go for some sweet-sour candies," Julius said as his gaze fell upon a light blue, bright yellow striped candy.

"Alright, I'll get you some. How many do you want?" Bon Bon asked as she grabbed a candy bag.

"How about ten bits worth," Julius said as he looked over a few other candies.

"Ten bits of candies coming up!" Bon Bon happily chirped as she put the candies into the bag. Of all things, watching an Earth Pony put candies into a bag was interesting. A few minutes of candy picking later, a full bag of candy rested on the counter. "That'll be ten bits, please!" Bon Bon happily said, with all the poise of a talented service mare.

"Thank you!" Julius happily responded as he gave Bon Bon ten bits and picked up the bag.

"You're welcome! Come back anytime!" Bon Bon happily said as Julius left Sweetie Drops' Candies.

"Pretty good," Julius happily said as he ate one of the candies. It was sweeter than sour, but it still had a nice sour bite right at the end. The candy's texture was a rather unique crunchy soft; the outside was a hard sugary shell, while the inside was chewy. All in all, the candy was delicious. Absentmindedly walking down the street, enjoying his candies, Julius's mind was in the clouds.

"INCOMING!" Several random ponies shouted as every pony dove to the ground. Looking around, Julius saw nothing. Shrugging, Julius turned his head around, only for some pegasi's rump to slam into his face.

"Not my best landing. But at least no pony got hurt!" A very happy-sounding feminine voice chirped.

"Mhhhmf!" Julius angrily grunted from under the pony's butt, his lips vibrating against her pussy.

"That feel's good, hehe," the pegasus mare happily purred. "Oh, oh my, I'm so sorry!" The mare yelped as she realized that she was sitting on somecreature, standing up; the mare turned around. "Are you OK?" The mare asked as she offered her hoof in helping Julius up.

"Aside from some random mare flying rump first into my face, yeah, I'm pretty fine," Julius said, somewhat annoyed. "I didn't see you at the party, so I'm guessing you're new in town," Julius said as he looked at the gray pegasus.

"Nope, I've lived here for nearly ten years," the mare happily said as she pulled a basket of muffins out of her mane in a very Pinkie Pie fashion. "Muffin?" The mare offered.

"Then why didn't I see you at the party? And yes, thank you," Julius asked as he took what appeared to be a blueberry muffin.

"Oh, that, hehe, yeah," the mare awkwardly laughed. "I kinda locked myself inside again that day," the mare chuckled.

"Well, why did you do that?" Julius asked as he ate the muffin. "This muffin is good, like really good." Julius thought as he ate the muffin.

"I forgot how to unlock my door. It's OK, though; a window was opened, so I just flew out," the mare happily said as she watched Julius enjoy the muffin.

"Wait, you literally locked yourself indoors? How? Also, is your door still locked?" Julius asked in disbelief.

"I did. But it's OK; Doctor Hooves unlocked my door for me," the mare happily said.

"I think I remember him," Julius said as he searched his memory. "The pony who looked like a Dr.Who cosplayer if I remember," Julius thought out loud.

"The two might know each other," the mare commented. "You can ask him later if you want," the mare said as she looked at Julius. "Oh, silly me, I never introduced myself. I'm Derpy, Derpy Hooves!" The pegasus happily said while saluting with a wing. "The best mailmare in all of Equestria! Also, Rainbow Dash's replacement on the weather team."

"I see," Julius said as he looked Derpy in her eyes. "Oh, uhhh, screw it, I said what I said," Julius said while Derpy laughed. "I'm Julius," Julius returned the introduction.

"A pleasure meeting you! Don't worry about what you said; I'm used to comments about my eyes," Derpy assured Julius as she walked beside him.

"Good to hear that you're OK with it. It takes a strong mare to be," Julius comforted the mare while ruffling her mane. "So, why were you flying so fast?" Julius asked as he looked slightly off towards a building.

"Oh, I was rushing to the café. I'm supposed to meet Doctor there," Derpy told Julius as the two walked towards the café.

"Funny that, I was thinking of going there myself. Get a coffee, and maybe a donut or something," Julius laughed as Derpy smiled.

"Well, want to walk there together?" Derpy asked as she walked beside Julius.

"Sure, why not," Julius accepted as the two continued to walk to the café, eating both the candies and muffins as they walked to the café.

"Welcome to The Hay 'n Hoof Café!" A chipper voice greeted as the two entered the café. "I'm Glowing Mane, and I'll be your server today!"

"Hah, same server, neat," Julius remarked as he and Derpy stood before the mare.

"Hi Glowing Mane," Derpy happily greeted, "is Doctor Hooves here? I'm supposed to meet him."

"Oh, Julius, and Derpy!" Glowing Mane happily noticed. "Yes, Doctor Hooves is here. He arrived, ummm, maybe ten minutes ago. Want me to take you to his table?"

"Yes, please!" Derpy happily requested. Glowing Mane ushered the two to follow her with a swish of her head. Walking through a fairly full dining area, Glowing Mane led the two to a table with only one stallion at it.

"My word Derpy, I was worried sick about you!" A remarkably chipper, very British voice said. "Oh, and I see you brought the human, Julius, was it?" The stallion asked as he noticed Julius.

"Yes, that's my name," Julius lightly smiled at the stallion. "I think I remember you from the party. I never got your name, though, just Doctor," Julius said as he and Derpy sat down. Derpy beside Doctor Hooves and Julius across from them.

"Well, actually, it's just Doctor," Doctor Hooves chuckled as Glowing Mane brought over two more menus. "That's quite alright; that mistake is one I'm used to," Doctor Hooves smiled as he and Derpy lightly nuzzled each other.

"Ah, your a couple, married, I presume, or at least in the same herd," Julius sweetly said as he looked over the menu. "How did you two meet?"

"Our parents," both ponies responded as they whispered to each other.

"Oh, so, your parents set you two up?" Julius asked as he set down his menu.

"Nope. Honestly, mom and dad were surprised we broke custom and didn't wait until I was thirty," Derpy told Julius as she set her menu down.

"I don't see why it was so surprising to them," Doctor Hooves said with a slight huff. "With all that you've been through and how close we always were, it was a forgone conclusion."

"Wait, are you two siblings too?" Julius asked, eyebrow raised.

"Yup," Derpy happily said as Glowing Mane came over.

"Are you all ready to order?" Glowing Mane asked, ready to take their orders.

"Yes, large coffee, three cream, three sugar, and the harvest soup," Julius said as he gave Glowing Mane the menu.

"Medium rosehip tea, please, and a garden salad," Derpy requested as she gave Glowing Mane her menu.

"Large cardamom tea added cinnamon and a garden salad if you would be so kind," Doctor Hooves politely said as he gave Glowing Mane his menu. After repeating the orders and getting a confirmation from each creature, Glowing Mane left to put in the orders.

"So, brother and sister together. There has to be a story behind that, please, do tell," Julius requested as he looked at the two ponies.

"Well, it's more common than you think here," Doctor Hooves chuckled. "Though yes, we do have a bit of a story behind us," Doctor Hooves said before quickly nuzzling Derpy.

"As I was growing up, I was always teased and picked on because of my eyes," Derpy somewhat sadly said. "Some of it was playful, but most of it wasn't," Derpy said as she nuzzled Doctor Hooves.

"Yes, some of those mares were quite nasty to Derpy. So I walked up to them and gave them what for," Doctor Hooves happily said as he puffed out his chest.

"They mostly backed off. Few mares would start something with a stallion. It looks very bad," Derpy told Julius. "It worked well enough while I was in Manehatten. But when I went to live in Cloudsdale with our aunts, the teasing resumed."

"So I got on a hot air balloon, went up to Cloudsdale, and gave those pegasi what for," Doctor Hooves proudly chuckled.

"He nearly fell through the clouds. The Cloudsdale Arial Safty Division saved him," Derpy lightly laughed.

"Yes," Doctor Hooves awkwardly said while rubbing the back of his neck with a hoof. "But I came back up there and still gave them what for!" Doctor Hooves proudly asserted.

"Ah, so sister protected by her brother, fell in love with said brother, and the two hooked up," Julius said while lightly smiling. "Makes sense, though; I would have thought it was the other way around here."

"Yes, for the most part, it is the other way around here," Doctor Hooves confirmed. "But you see, I have had visions! Visions of other worlds, worlds which, I can assure you, are considerably different from yours or ours! I've seen various wise mares and shastallions about these visions, and I have gotten a great many different responses to them. Some think that they are things I've seen in another life; others believe they are visions of a future yet to come. I've been told that I have very imaginative dreams, and some simply think I'm insane," Doctor Hooves chuckled at the thought.

"I have your orders!" Glowing Mane happily sang as she interrupted the conversation.

"Thank you," Julius happily thanked as Glowing Mane set their orders on the table. "That conversation was, uhhh, getting very meta," Julius sighed as he grabbed his coffee and soup. "No offense or anything, but I didn't come here to discuss metaphysics, philosophy, and religion," Julius told Doctor Hooves as he tried some of the soup.

"That's perfectly understandable; this is a restaurant, after all, not a hall of learning or anything like that," Doctor Hooves said as he started to eat his salad.

"It seems like you found somecreature who you can talk to about your visions and won't write you off right away," Derpy happily said as she ate her salad.

"Yes indeed, that is quite rare. But I've had a good feeling about our bipedal friend here. I don't quite know why but somehow he seems familiar, like a being from one of my visions," Doctor Hooves said after swallowing a mouthful of salad.

"By chance, did any of these visions have a red rectangular box with glass sides?" Julius asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Why yes, they all do! Tell me, why did you think that they would?" Doctor Hooves excitedly asked.

"Just a hunch, nothing more," Julius very quickly said before taking a strong drink of coffee.

"I see, very fascinating," Doctor Hooves said while rubbing his chin. "We will have to discuss your hunches more." And so, their lunch carried on with the three making polite small talk between mouthfuls of food and drink.

"All finished?" Glowing Mane asked as she approached the table.

"Yes," the three all responded.

"Great, that'll be twenty-four bits," Glowing Mane told the group as she gave Derpy a quick look.

"Give me a moment," Derpy said as she started to get out some bits.

"Here you go, my good server," Doctor Hooves said as he placed seven bits on the table.

"Well, this time, I actually have bits, so why not," Julius said as he too placed seven bits on the table.

"Thank you!" Derpy happily said as she placed ten bits on the table. Shrugging, Glowing Mane took the bits before taking the used dishes.

"Probably could have worked that out a bit better," Julius said as he started to get up.

"Oh dear heavens no," Doctor Hooves chuckled as he and Derpy stood up. "You see, when a stallion and mare both split the bill, it's customary for the mare to pay more than the stallion. So with our bill being split three ways, us paying seven bits, and Derpy paying ten worked out perfectly," Doctor Hooves explained as the three started to leave the café.

"It was really nice of you two to help with the bill!" Derpy smiled as the two exited the café.

"Thank you for the muffins," Julius smiled back as he looked off into the distance. "Probably a bad time to see the Apples; guess I'll try to find Rainbow Dash," Julius said while stretching.

"Oh, if you find her, give her this for me, please!" Derpy sweetly said while giving Julius a muffin. "It's blueberry chocolate chip, with vanilla cream. Rainbow Dash loves them!"

"Hah, I can kind of see that," Julius chuckled.

"Always thinking of others," Doctor Hooves smiled while lightly nuzzling Derpy's neck. "Alas, I would like to spend more time here, but we should be getting back to the herd; Dinky will get worried otherwise," Doctor Hooves said with a light chuckle.

"Is she one of your wives?" Julius asked at hearing the name.

"Oh no," Derpy responded, "Dinky is our daughter. I gave birth to her shortly after we moved to Ponyville," Derpy smiled.

"Oh, I see, well, good for you two," Julius congratulated in surprise. "Honestly, I'm not in any position to judge," Julius thought to himself.

"Nine years late, but in this fabric of time, that's as good as the day of!" Doctor Hooves said with a flourish. "Now then, let us be off. Allons y!"

"Bye Julius! It was nice meeting you!" Derpy waved before following Doctor Hooves off.

"Bye Derpy, bye Doctor!" Julius waved as he saw them off. "If nothing else, they're a cute couple. Now, if I were a betting man, Rainbow Dash would be at the track field," Julius said while scratching his chin. "So I guess I'll start looking there," Julius said to himself as he started to make his way towards the field.