Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

After making a quick stop for Fluttershy to feed the animals, the group arrived outside Ponyville. Waiting for the group was a pair of pegasi guards.

"A little late," one of the guards said as Luna swiftly glared at him. "But that's fine. We were told to expect a bit of a delay. Follow us," the guard ordered as the pair walked the group to a small clearing just east of the town center.

"So, why only two guards? Considering Luna's here, shouldn't there be more? Like, at minimum, a full squad," Julius asked as they were led to the chariots.

"For most, yes. But, considering it's Luna, there really isn't much that could threaten her," one of the guards said. "Yeah. Besides, considering her mood, I'd dread to cross her. Whatever did, well, we'd probably protect them more than her. Guessing she didn't sleep well last night," the other guard absentmindedly said.

"Very observant," a tired Luna grumbled. "I never sleep well at night; I'm always working at night, remember?" grumpy Luna growled as the guards kept their gaze fixed forwards.

"Right, our apologies," one of the guards said. "Too used to guarding Celestia. I swear she's awake before anypony else," the other said as they walked up to several chariots.

"Yes, that does sound like Celestia," Twilight said as she entered one of the chariots. "I tried to wake up when she did a few times. I would wake up anywhere between four in the morning to five-thirty. I might be a morning pony, but even that's a bit too early for me," Twilight said as she and the others got into the chariots, with Luna immediately laying down in a corner. As soon as Julius sat down, Luna used her magic to pull him over to her.

"Comfy," Luna yawned as she fell asleep, gripping Julius in her legs as though he was a body pillow.

"It's OK, I'm OK with this," Julius smiled as he struggled to take his sweater off. After several moments of struggling, Julius got his sweater off; Julius draped it over Luna's head as he got comfortable.

"Thank you," Luna softly cooed as she drifted off deeper to sleep.

"All on board?" The driving pegasi asked, to which all save Luna answered. "Luna too?" One of the drivers for the chariot Luna was in asked.

"She is, trust me," Julius responded as Luna softly sighed, groaned, and snorted while sleeping. Quickly looking back, the coachmare saw Luna's body in the chariot.

"She is," the coachmare confirmed, "let's head off now," the coachmare commanded as the pegasi took off. Flying up through the sky, Rainbow Dash looked out from the sides.

"You sure you're OK there? You're missing out on quite a view," Rainbow Dash asked Julius as she looked at many different things.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Honestly, it's probably better this way. If I were looking out the side, I'd probably be freaking out right about now," Julius lightly laughed as he nuzzled against Luna.

"Sounds like Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash laughed as Fluttershy lightly shivered in a corner. "Point proven. Honestly, it's a little surprising that you're afraid of heights," Rainbow Dash commented as she watched a loft of pigeons fly by.

"What are you talking about? I'm not afraid of heights," Julius laughed. "Now falling, that terrifies me. But what about Fluttershy? She's a pegasus; why is she afraid?" Julius asked.

"Not sure if you're aware of this, but Fluttershy is afraid of nearly everything. I've seen her jump at her own shadow," Rainbow Dash told Julius.

"But, isn't she the bold one in her family? How? Why? What? Why?" Julius asked, bewildered as he scratched his head lightly against Luna's horn.

"Oh, easy, her family isn't that brave," Rainbow Dash told Julius. "Well, I suppose there are some outliers, but on the whole, Fluttershy's family is quite timid," Rainbow Dash explained.

"I suppose that makes sense. Being the bravest doesn't take much when the bar is set that low," Julius said as he hugged Luna.

"Here, everyone, I got cloudycones!" Pinkie Pie sang as she passed out what looked like snowcones, only made out of clouds to everyone. "I take it those two are too comfy to move, so they can have theirs later, Pinkie Pie said as she looked at Luna and Julius. Pinkie Pie licked her lips after taking a few large licks of her cloudycone. "Snow is nice, but clouds can really be refreshing sometimes," Pinkie Pie happily smiled as she enjoyed her cloudycone.

"Yeah, clouds are nice and fluffy," Rainbow Dash hummed while licking her cloudycone. "Though, they are a bit light on flavor. Hey Pinkie, got and flavors in your mane?" Rainbow Dash asked as Pinkie Pie rummaged through her mane.

"Hmmm, wooden cup graily thingy that feels odd, no. Glowing red stone that keeps turning things into other things, no. Carved jade dragon, no. Pretty jeweled necklace with a star, no. Big yellow diamond, no. A special-looking six-branched candle, no. A book titled 'Q Source,' no. A bunch of very fancy eggs, no," Pinkie Pie said as she rummaged through her mane.

"Geez, Pinkie, how much does your mane hold?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I thought only party-related things could be stored in your mane," Twilight remarked.

"Sometimes, but only when it feels like it. I don't know the rules of my mane; I only pretend to know them," Pinkie Pie confidently said as she pulled out some flavoring. "Why, one time, I pulled out a crown of thorns from my mane, talk about weird. Why'd anycreature make a crown of thorns?" Pinkie Pie laughed as she passed out the flavors she found.

"I refuse to believe you on the grounds of my sanity," Julius flatly said.

"That's fair. I got my mane tested by several unicorns, and none of them can explain it. Though one of them did link it to my Pinkie Sense, so I guess they're related," Pinkie Pie shrugged as she and the others enjoyed their now flavored cloudycones. Eating their cloudycones and enjoying the ride, the group made their way to Castle Canterlot.

"Alright, we're here," the coachmare said as the chariots landed on a landing pad right outside the castle. As the chariots landed, an entire battalion of armored guards was waiting to greet them.

"Geez, what's with all the guards?" Rainbow Dash asked as she hopped out of the chariot.

"Lieutenant Colonel Misty Horn of the Seventh Iron Lightning Battalion," a unicorn said as she presented herself before the disembarking group. "We were ordered here from the northern border as additional security. We were briefed on an unusual creature that would be coming to Canterlot, and the Princess is concerned," the mare said as she looked around. "Where is the creature?" Misty Horn asked as she looked around.

"That's me; Luna is cuddling me. Won't move, can't move," Julius said from inside the chariot.

"Ah, we were warned that something like this might happen," Misty Horn said as she turned around. "First platoon, enact the 'sleeping alicorn' plan; second platoon, support!" Misty Horn firmly commanded as roughly a hundred unicorns walked forward.

"OK, a hundred, really? That's too much," Rainbow Dash huffed.

"We try not to break up the platoons, even for seemingly small things like this," Misty Horn tersely explained as some unicorns levitated Luna and Julius out, and the others rested them on a movable couch. "Alright, company one, take the Princess and Julius to Ravenloft, make sure no creature disturbs Luna, or so help me, Celestia, there will be tartarus to pay," Misty Horn commanded.

"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Misty Horn!" Another armored unicorn answered. "Mares, form up. Platoon one, drive the couch; platoon two, escort platoon one; platoons three and four scout the ways. Platoon three, scout and clear ahead; platoon four, you have the rear, understood," the armored unicorn said.

"Yes, Major Shock Charge!" The company mares respond.

"Good, carry out your orders," Shock Charge commanded as she went to lead the company to Ravenloft.

"Alright, troops, the greeting is over. Get back to guard positions, platoon five, escort Zecora," Misty Horn ordered.

"Yes, Lieutenant Colonel Misty Horn!" The rest of the battalion responded as they went to take up their positions.

"A whole battalion, it still seems a bit much," Twilight commented as she and the others walked by the armored unicorns.

"Celestia was clear; she wants no trouble. We have standing orders to have Julius under the guard of at least one full platoon at all times. While he'll be discouraged from leaving the castle, he will not be stopped. In that case, the guarding platoon is to act as security. Twilight, you've grown up in Canterlot; you know how it can be to outsiders, even if they're only outside ponies," Misty Horn explained to Twilight.

"True," Twilight sadly hummed as her ears flattened to her head.

"Of course, these orders apply to you as well," Misty Horn said as she looked at Zecora. "Platoon five is here to provide you security. We strongly discourage leaving the castle. If you should, platoon five will escort you to wherever you go. We understand that this may feel a bit restrictive, but they are just there for your protection," Misty Horn told Zecora.

"I understand. I accept their command," Zecora responded as the group made their way through the castle hallways. Walking through several hallways, the group hears a voice coming from their destination.

"-yes, you've already said that. But I do not understand why that exactly means I cannot see him," a stallion said to an armored unicorn in protest.

"My Lord Duke Pants, I regret to inform you that, that information is on a need-to-know base at the moment, and you do not need to know," the unicorn responded, making the stallion sigh.

"Oh, Your Grace, Sir Fancy Pants," Twilight said as she approached him.

"Please, Twilight, you know I don't stand on ceremony unless I have to," Fancy Pants responded with a tired sigh. "Forgive me; I've been trying to get a meeting with someone," Fancy Pants said as he started to hum. "Say, I think you could be of some help here. My sources tell me that you know this odd new creature. Is that true," Fancy Pants knowingly asked.

"How did you know?" Twilight asked as she slightly backed up.

"Please, Twilight, I am an Archduke, and Ponyville is on Canterlot's doorstep. If I didn't know about news like that in that situation, then I'd never last in my position," Fancy Pants laughed. "I shall take that as a yes. Tell me, Twilight, why can't I meet with this creature? From my understanding, he should be here now," Fancy Pants said as he looked at Twilight.

"Princess Luna decided he'd make a good pillow," Rainbow Dash said with a light laugh. "So he's with her, and she's sleeping right now. You might disturb her if you met with him," Rainbow Dash told Fancy Pants.

"I see," Fancy Pants heartily laughed. "Good for her. I've been meaning to meet with her, too, at some point. But scheduling makes her a nightmare to get in touch with. Still, it's good that she's interested in somecreature," Fancy Pants smiled. "So, when could I meet with him, or, well, either of them really?"

"Well, Luna just fell asleep about an hour ago, so maybe five to seven hours from now? We'll let you know when we next see them," Twilight told Fancy Pants.

"Can't really be helped, can it," Fancy Pants sighed. "Guess I'll take care of other business while I wait. Until later," Fancy Pants said as he left to go to the castle court.

"Was it really necessary to tell him that?" Misty Horn asked as she raised an eyebrow at Rainbow Dash.

"I don't see why not. Besides, Luna seems like she'd like to get to know some creatures," Rainbow Dash shrugged. "Oh well, what's done is done. Come on, show us around!" Rainbow Dash energetically said as Twilight sighed before following the group.