Wish Gone Awry. Enter Equestria! Enter New Life!

Entering the main building, the group slowly looked around. They tried to get their eyes to adjust to the darkness, taking several moments. A deep, seemingly oppressive darkness surrounded the ponies as they entered. While the group slowly adjusted, the door behind them shut, leaving the already dark room somehow even darker.

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she heard the door shut. "Mind giving us some light or something?" She angrily asked in a huff.

"No," a raspy voice responded, seemingly from behind her. Swiftly turning around, Rainbow Dash only saw darkness but felt that something was off. "Vee don't take vell to the sun. Just followen sie das the air; it vill lead you to Zee Great Mozer," the same voice commanded, once again, seemingly from behind Rainbow Dash.

"Ummm, OK," Rainbow Dash nervously said while Fluttershy shuttered behind a humming Pinkie Pie. "Guess we'll just follow the breeze," Rainbow Dash sighed as a light breeze brushed through her fur. Slowly following the air's current, Rainbow Dash's and Fluttershy's fur stood on end. "OK, Pinkie Pie, why are you so calm? Everything here seems so off. And these things; I don't know what they are, but I'm pretty sure they aren't thestrals," Rainbow Dash asked as she carefully led the group.

"Silly Dashy," Pinkie Pie smiled. "Luna won't let anything happen to us. Besides, they haven't done anything to us so far. If they wanted to do something, they would have by now," Pinkie Pie explained before happily blepping as she bounced behind Rainbow Dash.

"That's surprisingly well thought out for you, considering this isn't related to a party or anything," Rainbow Dash responded as she narrowly avoided a set of barded thestral armor.

"Silly Dashy, this is a party," Pinkie Pie laughed while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy gave her an odd look. "Meh, Spike and Big Mac would get it; maybe Julius too; probably Twilight," Pinkie Pie hummed while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy looked at each other and shrugged. Walking through the halls, the group came to a spiral staircase, with stairs going higher and lower and a breeze leading upward.

"Good thing the breeze is going up. I'd hate to see what's lower," Rainbow Dash nervously laughed as she and the others started to climb the stairs.

"Zee kammern des erholsamen schlafes, zee bereich für schulungen, und zee essbereich und küche," a gruff voice responded from behind the group.

"Geez. Couldn't you speak standard Equestrian? And could you stop being so creepy; it's creepy," Rainbow Dash sighed in a huff.

"Nein," the voice swiftly responded as the group continued up the stairs.

"Figures," Rainbow Dash huffed in annoyance. As the group reached the top of the stairs, they stood before an ebony door with a bright, seemingly glowing waxing crescent moon adorned the door. "Guessing this is Luna's room," Rainbow Dash said as she placed a hoof on the door. Pushing open the door, the first thing the group noticed was the increased light. Where the rest of the building seemed to be shrouded in darkness, the room seemed to be bathed in moonlight. The second thing the group noticed made Rainbow Dash's wings flare out. The group noticed what appeared to be a large thestral, with a pale blue coat, with her forehead against Luna's and Julius's.

"Get away from them!" Rainbow Dash commanded as she charged the mysterious thestral. As soon as Rainbow Dash got close, the thestral seemed to disappear into a black mist. "Wha, where did she- AH!" Rainbow Dash yelped as she was sent flying away from Luna and Julius.

"So fery quick to fight," the mare sighed as Rainbow Dash slid to a stop. "Tell me, young one, have you ever shtopped to think before doink anythink?" The mare asked as she placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash's head.

"Get off her!" Pinkie Pie commanded as she began her own charge.

"Kute, but pointless," the pony sighed as a thick black mist emanated from her. The mist surrounded Pinkie Pie, leaving her in a swaying daze. "Ant vat of you, karetaker? Are you goink to try to stare me down?" The mare asked while looking away from the three mares.

"N-no," Fluttershy shuttered as she backed away from the mare.

"Very good. You alvays seemed to be one of the more tempered ones," the mare commented as she began to walk away from Rainbow Dash. "Kollect your friends, and tell those fools to behave themselves," the mare commanded as she walked to a nearby counter.

"Hey, we're not finished," Rainbow Dash groaned as she slowly stood up.

"Vrong, vee are," the mare firmed stated as a slight chill enveloped Rainbow Dash. Shivering, Rainbow Dash backed slowly away from the mare.

"W-who are you?" Rainbow Dash asked as she tripped over a dazed Pinkie Pie.

"Erster Mondkinderführer der Nächtlichen Seligen Aloysia. Vell, I suppose you voult have trouble with our old tongue. So just Aloysia is fine, if not disrespektful," Aloysia said as she filled a kettle with water and began to boil it.

"W-why is it disrespectful? And why did you call me caretaker?" Fluttershy asked as Rainbow Dash was still recovering and as the black mist left Pinkie Pie.

"It is my official title, dating back to a few years after Luna became an alicorn. As for karetaker, it is vat you are. You and your friends have long been known to us. Vee have long known zat you six vere the elements of harmony. You specifikally have been noted, mostly from you taking kare of our bats. For zat, vee thank you," Aloysia explained as she began to make a cup of coffee.

"Bats, bats," Fluttershy hummed. "Wait, when bats have stayed at my cottage, I'd find small fruit baskets outside my door. Was that you?" Fluttershy asked while Aloysia prepared the coffee.

"No. Zough, some of my kind have done such sinks, as vell as some sestrals," Aloysia responded as she added a few extra things to the cup of coffee.

"Oh, thank you. The bats and other animals enjoy the fruits," Fluttershy thanked while Pinkie Pie shook her head clear.

"Why did you say you and your kind? Aren't you a thestral as well?" Pinkie Pie asked as Aloysia tasted the coffee before balancing it on one of her wings.

"Yes, and no. I am, but I am also much more," Aloysia steadily said as she turned around. Black sclera with white star-like dots, piercing ruby red eyes, slit pupils, and protruding fangs greeted the ponies. Walking in a seeming gliding gait, Aloysia seemingly floated over to the side of the bed with Luna and Julius on it, placing the fresh cup of coffee on the side table.

"Va-va-va, va-va-va," the three ponies shuttered as they backed into a corner.

"Oh, grow up," Aloysia sighed as she watched Julius. "It is as Luna said," Aloysia commented as she saw Julius wiggling and heard him groaning. Watching him closely, Aloysia saw his eyes slowly flutter open. "Come on, let's get you out of Luna's legs," Aloysia calmly said as she helped Julius get untangled from Luna's embrace.

"I smell something good," Julius groaned as he sniffed the air.

"Yes, I just made some koffee for you. Food shall be here soon. I sink you'll be pleasantly surprised. Zem, not as much, especially zee karetaker," Aloysia said as her eyes flicked swiftly to the quivering ponies.

"It'd be nice," Julius yawned as he sipped his coffee. "Vanilla cinnamon coffee, nice," Julius sighed as he looked around the room with sleepy eyes. "Why are Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie shaking in the corner?" Julius asked when he saw the three.

"Get away from her. She's a vampire pony," Rainbow Dash said as she tried to collect herself.

"No, she's a thestral," Julius disagreed as he turned to look at Aloysia. "OK, maybe I'm wrong. But honestly, I just woke up. Too drowsy to really care. Besides, if there's one vampire pony here, then the whole place is probably filled with them. How'd we escape, and how'd we deal with them? They're no problem as long as they aren't attacking or anything; besides, we're under Luna's protection, remember?" Julius groggily groaned as he resisted the urge to lay back down.

"Smarter than you look," Aloysia commented as she sat on the bed.

"Well, drowsy and apathetic right now. Honestly, if I were fully awake and didn't know that Luna was protecting me, I'd probably do something stupid. Like freak out, attack you, and try to run away," Julius said as he sipped the coffee.

"Zat's more vat I expected," Aloysia said as the door opened and three vampire ponies walked in, one with a covered platter. Setting the platter down on the side table, the vampire ponies nodded in a short bow at Aloysia. "Fery good, zank you," Aloysia thanked as the three vampire ponies took their leave. "Your breakfast," Aloysia said as she presented the covered platter. "Zee ponies may wish to leave. Your breakfast may disturb zem," Aloysia cautioned.

"Why? Are you feeding him blood or something?" Rainbow Dash accused as she flared in wings in bravado.

"Don't be absuret. Vee have been told of Julius's dietary needs. Vee feel zat vee are more villink to meet sose needs," Aloysia responded as Julius lifted the cover. A creamy-looking salad with some bright greens and something pink and seared greeted him with a fork and knife. Cutting off a piece of the seared pink thing, Julius tried it. Slowly crewing it, Julius's eyes widened.

"Is this salmon?" Julius asked in surprise as he took another bite.

"Seared, salted, peppered, ant vith some lemon," Aloysia confirmed. "Vee vere tolt zat you ate meat. Vile fake meat exists, vee have fount zat fish tent to be a better fit. I take it from your enjoyment zat vee are correct," Aloysia said as Julius ate his breakfast.

"Very much so," Julius said as he ate. "Even back home, salmon is kind of rare. Stupid expensive fish," Julius grunted before trying some of the salad. Tasting the creamy salad, Julius bit into something crunchy. "Cucumber?" Julius asked in surprise.

"Yes," Aloysia said. "An old dish, but shtill common," Aloysia further confirmed as Julius continued to eat. "I take it zat all is to your likink," Aloysia said as she looked towards the counter.

"Well, I could do without the heavy German accent. But other than that, yes, very much so," Julius confirmed as he enjoyed the food.

"Is this any better?" Aloysia slowly asked as she got up and walked towards the counter.

"Very much so, yes. Wait, if you can talk normally, why don't you?" Julius asked while Aloysia grabbed a cup and poured something into it.

"This isn't normal for me. Most of my kind, or vampire ponies, as the ignorant know us, still speak in our ancient tongue. Only a few of us can talk without our accent," Aloysia explained as she took a sip of her drink.

"Fair. Considering how secluded thestrals are, you're probably even more secluded. So, what's in the cup?" Julius asked as he finished his food.

"A mix of several different juices and a small amount of blood. Staying awake this early is quite tiring for our kind," Aloysia said as she sipped her drink. "Now, I have my orders. Let your food rest, and prepare yourself. Once you are ready, let me know. I shall take you downstairs and test you," Aloysia told Julius.

"How so? What do you mean?" Julius asked before finishing off his coffee.

"I talked with Luna in the dream realm. I got orders from her to test you, primarily for spirit magic capabilities, though other things will be tested. As I'm sure you could guess, this test will consist of us sparring; well, I'll be sparring, you'll be fighting," Aloysia told Julius.

"What do you mean? 'I'll be fighting, and you'll be sparring'?" Julius asked, sounding offended.

"Frankly, you cannot harm me. Were we to fight seriously, you'd have no chance. I have as much combat experience as Luna and a mastery of dark magic only exceeded by Luna herself. You are completely outclassed. That said, the point isn't for you to win, just for me to take your measure, for me to see where exactly to start your training in dark magic," Aloysia explained.

"So, I will be getting trained in dark magic, neat," Julius commented.

"Against Celestia's wishes, yes. Luna and Celestia are still arguing about that. Those two still haven't changed thousands of years later," Aloysia sighed deeply.

"How do you know that? How old are you?" Julius asked as he looked at Aloysia in surprise.

"I am a few months older than Luna and a few months younger than Celestia. I grew up with those two, and they're still mostly the same after all this time," Aloysia sighed with mild annoyance.

"Damn, the three of you have aged really well," Julius said as he stood up and started to do a few stretches.

"Biological immortality and eternal youth will do that. It comes with becoming an alicorn and becoming one of the chosen blessed," Aloysia explained. "Now, I'll go ahead to prepare the grounds. Once you are ready to be tested, leave the room. You shall be guided towards the training grounds," Aloysia told Julius before leaving the room. Fully recovering from their shock, the three ponies approach Julius.

"You're not going with her, are you?" Rainbow Dash asked as she walked up to Julius.

"I am," Julius flatly said. "I'll be fine; I trust Luna," Julius said while stretching.

"Yeah, I doubt she'd let anything bad happen to you," Pinkie Pie hummed. "But fair warning, it's really dark in there, like bold new levels of dark. It's advanced dark in there," Pinkie Pie said spookily.

"Hah, thanks for the warning," Julius thanked as he continued to stretch.