Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

Making their way back to Zecora's house, the group took in the sights of the Everfree Forest in the evening. The soft light of the setting sun painted the mystical forest in a gentle, warm glow that made several flowers glow.

"Ohhhh, glowy," Pinkie Pie cooed as she spotted some glowing flowers.

"You might wanna stay away from those flowers. Believe it or not, those are poison joke. Zecora and I have no idea why they glow in the setting sun. If I had to guess, well, the flower wants to make you laugh, so better to lure you in, I guess," Julius explained with a shrug.

"Oh, do they," Pinkie Pie slyly said with a smirk. "Maybe I wanna try it," Pinkie Pie said as she started to walk towards the flowers.

"Don't," Julius told her. "If you wanna try it, Zecora has poison joke extract at her house, and she has the antidote there. If you wanna try it, please, at least do it in a controlled setting," Julius asked of Pinkie Pie.

"Fine, but I better get something funny," Pinkie Pie pouted with a giggle.

"You will, though; I can't promise you'll find it funny. I'm sure we will, but you, well, you might not," Julius said as the group continued along the path.

"I don't know," Pinkie Pie said as she looked at Julius. "I know something's going to happen, so I'm sure I'll be OK with it," Pinkie Pie insisted.

"Well, if anyone can take a joke, it's you. So, it's possible, still, expect some kind of physical change," Julius warned Pinkie Pie.

"Ohhhh, that has me more interested," Pinkie Pie smiled. "Think I'll get wings? Or maybe a horn? Or, or, maybe I'll become glow in the dark, like a light-up Pinkie Pie!" Pinkie Pie happily sang as she bounced along.

"Well, I suppose it's possible. Still, I wouldn't count on it. Poison joke is kind of a jerk. I guarantee you, if it gives you something you want, strings will be attached. That's why, if you're going to try it, you'd best have the antidote with you," Julius told Pinkie Pie.

"Sensible precaution," Twilight commented. "What is the antidote to poison joke?" Twilight asked.

"It's a potion that you take as a bubble bath. Well, I suppose you can drink it too, but, from what I remember, it doesn't taste very good. It makes a great bubble bath, but otherwise, it tastes like sweetened soap," Julius grimaced as the ponies shuttered.

"Yes, that sounds about right for the antidote," Luna said. "As I remember it, the antidote never tasted good. Still, to hear it tastes like sweetened soap is a vast improvement of its taste."

"It used to taste worse? What did it taste like?" Julius asked as he immediately rethought what he said. "Never mind, I don't want to know."

"Hah, smart, safe to say though, it tasted truly rancid," Luna laughed. "Even my sister and I could only barely withstand the taste."

"Really, Celestia had trouble with the taste?" Twilight asked, puzzled. "I mean, I've tried some of the peppers she eats, so it's hard to believe there's a thing she couldn't eat."

"Does Celestia have bad-tasting peppers?" Julius asked.

"No, but they're absurdly spicy," Twilight laughed. "I accidentally ate one before; I thought of lighting my mouth on fire to cool it down," Twilight laughed.

"That sounds about right," Luna flatly said. "Celestia always had a penchant for spicy food. Though, I suppose when you can breathe fire, you find little to be hot or spicy."

"Makes sense. I'll keep it in mind to stay away from any peppers tomorrow," Julius said.

"Not all of them are spicy. Just avoid the glowing red ones with yellow stripes and orange seeds. Those are the spiciest ones; they always have been," Luna told Julius. "I remember when we were unifying Equestria, a Vanhoover ambush captured a caravan with those peppers. The raiders made the mistake of eating them. Our forces captured them as they threw themselves in a nearby river. It was easy to capture them; all we had to do was tell them that we had a way to neutralize the spiciness," Luna said with a laugh.

"You could have stopped at 'glowing red' that was enough to tell me not to eat them," Julius huffed with a chuckle.

"I suppose that's true," Luna said as Zecora's house came in view. "Well, I guess that we're back," Luna said as she walked up to the door.

"Yeah, we are. You lot go ahead. I've been a bit lazy today, so I'm going to spend some time exercising in the forest," Julius told the group.

"Are you sure? Isn't the Everfree Forest dangerous at night?" Twilight asked.

"Not as much as you'd think. Besides, I know this place well enough. If nothing else, it'll never be as dangerous as that time the shadow walkers attacked me," Julius flatly said.

"If you insist, at least take something with you for protection," Luna told Julius.

"Alright," Julius acquiesced. "I don't suppose you have anything like that with you, do you?" Julius asked as he looked at Luna.

"On me, no, at the castle, yes," Luna told Julius. "Though, I seem to recall you were saying something about blessed salt, why not make some more?" Luna asked as she held her gaze.

"You just want to see it being made, don't you?" Julius asked after thinking about it for a minute.

"Guilty," Luna giggled. "Though, it would be helpful to see how it's made. As things stand, I can only guess how it works. To truly understand how it works, I need to see it being made, see it in use, and use it myself," Luna told Julius.

"Fair, though I think it's just faith-based," Julius said as Luna opened the door.

"That's likely, which would make it a subset of spirit magic, likely light, or maybe dark-enhanced water magic," Luna said as the group entered Zecora's house.

"Hey Zecora, we're back," Julius said as he entered. "And I'm going right back out, well, after making some blessed salt, maybe some holy water too," Julius hummed as he shut the door and headed to the kitchen.

"Always on the move you are. Frankly, it's a surprise that, as of yet, you haven't gotten a mar," Zecora said as she followed Julius into the kitchen. "I hope you don't mind, but I think I'll watch. I've tried to make your blessed salt, but so far, it's been botch after botch. I can't quite tell why; all I do is the same as you. Perhaps by watching through first hoof review, I can see how to make it true," Zecora said as she stood close to Luna and Julius.

"Sure, why not? It looks like I'm going to have an audience anyways. Besides, I don't think secrecy is required to make blessed salt," Julius said as he got a stone bowl and some salt. Pouring the salt into the bowl, Julius took a few deep breaths as he closed his eyes. Kneeling, Julius bowed his head. "Omnipotens sempiterne Deus," Julius started to say as he began a prayer. "Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum. Amen," Julius solemnly said as he finished the prayer.

Observing Julius, Zecora and Twilight made a quick look at Luna, who made a soft hum. The three watched as Julius got another bowl. Half filling the bowl, Julius once again kneeled.

"O aqua, creature Dei," Julius started to pray. After finishing his prayer, Julius added some blessed salt to the water. Pouring it into the water in the shape of a cross, Julius solemnly prayed. "Miscetur sal et aqua; in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen," Julius prayed in a relatively short prayer. After ending the prayer, Julius took a few breaths both, again, closing his eyes. "Benedictus es, Domine, omnipotens Deus -" Julius started to pray yet again. "- ut semper in novitate vitae ambulemus," Julius finishes his prayer as he made the sign of a cross over the water. "And after a lot of Latin prayers, blessed salt, and holy water," Julius said as he turned around. "Thoughts?"

"Definitely spirit magic," Luna said without hesitation. "During your first prayer, I could feel the telltale sign of light magic. And yet, oddly, it feels like both are trying to resist magic itself," Luna told Julius. "Could you flick a few drops at me?" Luna asked.

"Weird request, but OK," Julius said as he dipped a finger in the holy water. As Julius flicked a few drops at Luna, Luna tried to block the drops with her magic. As Luna's magic touched the drops of holy water, the air seemed to shimmer and fizzle as both the drops and Luna's magic violently fizzled away.

"As I suspected," Luna hummed as she nodded. "Your holy water, and blessed salt, seem to be extraordinarily anti-magic. Such things can be highly valuable and useful. If it's not too much to ask, could you make some more, preferably soon? I think I have an idea to weave it into protective runes, and there are a few places that need strong runes," Luna tells Julius.

"Like that weird place you had to go to some time ago?" Julius asked as he packed up the blessed salt and holy water.

"Among other places, yes," Luna told Julius.

"I suppose, though, Zecora just saw me make it; maybe she could try to make it?" Julius asked.

"That I could not do. Your faith I'd have to be inducted into. Such is the way of faith-based magic, be it direct or potion. Whether or not I would is a difficult notion. I know little of it and little of the ordained ways. And to learn them would take many days. For one such as I, it's a difficult contemplation. I'm afraid I need much more information," Zecora told Julius.

"Quite. At best, one not of your faith could only make a drastically weaker version of the two. Such is how faith-based magic works, no matter its form," Luna said as she backed up Zecora.

"Yeah, I thought as much, still, worth a try," Julius sighed. "Alright, I'll make some for you, but I wanna go with you to this place. I'm curious to what it is," Julius firmly stated as Luna and Zecora shared a look of concern.

"It would be best for you not to go to such a place. For you, it could be a terrible case. Foul practices made their home at that cursed grotto in ages long since passed. A terrible practice, one that would leave you aghast," Zecora firmly warned Julius.

"Zecora is correct. Though my sister and I have long since cleared that place out, we have no idea what evil magic might still linger there. That's why that grotto has been kept sealed, warded, guarded, and off the maps," Luna told Julius.

"Cool story and all, still curious, though. I'm not budging on this," Julius shot back as he made for the door. Following Julius out, Luna walked close to him. "I'm headed out for a bit, getting some late day, early night exercise," Julius said as he opened the door. Following Julius out the door, Luna quickly shut the door behind them.

"You won't let this go, will you?" Luna asked as she held the door shut tight with her magic.

"Yeah, that's right, I'm sticking firm on this," Julius firmly said as he looked into Luna's eyes. As the two shared a deep look. Sighing, Luna spoke up.

"Look, speak of this to nocreature, alright," Luna firmly told Julius as she slowly walked him a little bit further from Zecora's house.

"Alright," Julius said as he let Luna lead him.

"Many years ago, when Celestia and I set up the Principality of Canterlot, all sorts of sects existed across Equestria. One such sect worshiped the windigoes, evil spirits, representing the absolute worst of winter and death. This place was one of their sect's sacred places," Luna started to explain. "Tell me, do you know what gelding is?" Luna asked.

"Why do you ask?" Julius said as he gave Luna an odd look before taking a step back.

"I'll take that as a yes," Luna said as Julius nodded. "Well, at this place, the windigo cult practiced that very thing as a part of their foul rituals; thus, the name of that place, gelding grotto," Luna told Julius.

"Oh, OK," Julius calmly said as he started to walk away with a blank look on his face. After making it a few steps into the forest, Julius rapidly walked back to Luna. "WAIT. WHAT?" Julius asked as emotion returned to his face, a mixture of anger and disbelief.

"An appropriate reaction," Luna said. "Our reaction was much the same when we learned of the place. Celestia and I went to that place and cleared it out. Afterward, we warded the area and sealed it," Luna told Julius.

"Why not destroy the area? Celestia has the power of the sun at her disposal. Blast that whole area in fire, bathe it in an inferno, destroy it with fire!" Julius proclaimed. "Hell, you control the moon, and it's a grotto, use the tides to flood that place, then summon a kraken or something to destroy it!"

"We considered destroying it, believe me, but that risks any trapped magic being released into the world. It was deemed safer to contain the magic, to seal the place and keep it warded," Luna explained to Julius. "though if it makes you feel any better, I had a similar reaction," Luna chuckled. "Anyways, that's why I want some blessed salt and holy water. If I can work it into my wards, it can better contain the magic there. Though I'll have to perfect it in a controlled environment, and that might take some time, it's a time investment I'm willing to make," Luna told Julius.

"Look, I'll think about it," Julius sighed. "I'm still curious about that place, but I don't really wanna go there now," Julius said as he scratched his chin. "Look, if this really is faith-based, then I'll pray on it. If I get something telling me 'OK,' then I'll make some for you, alright?" Julius offered.

"That is acceptable," Luna said as she turned around. "I'm going back inside now; try not to stay out too late," Luna sang as she gave Julius a wink.

"No promises. After all, I might find that odd figure," Julius laughed as he turned to face the forest.

"If you do, make the same type of protective circle and fall asleep in it. I'll keep watch out for your dream. If I see it while you're not here, I'll go to it so we can talk, alright?" Luna asked as she turned to Julius.

"Got it," Julius said with a nod.

"Good," Luna smiled with a nod. "Now, don't stay out too late," Luna smiled as she reentered Zecora's house.

"Don't worry; I won't dream horse, I won't," Julius said to himself as he went off into the Everfree for some late-day, early-evening exercise.