What if....

Twilight stood absolutely speechless.

“Yes Twilight, it is me, Charlie.”

Twilight shook her head and gazed around. Her friends stood dumbfounded, mouths wide open, while other ponies appeared to be whispering to each other. Twilight turned to Shining Armor, who appeared to be surprised. She then looked up at Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, who were both smiling.

“Um, Twilight.”

Twilight looked back at Charlie with a surprised look on her face.

“But how?”

Rainbow walked up next to Twilight.

“Yeah, I saw the explosion, how in Equestria did you survive that?”

Charlie shrugged.

“I don’t know, I just remember being woken up with Swift in my arms by Princess Celestia.”

All eyes turned to Princess Celestia, who seemed unfazed by the sudden attention.

“I found him in the Everfree Forest with Swift Sword in his care.” Princess Celestia said with closed eyes.

“But how did you know Princess?” Twilight asked.

Princess Celestia’s suddenly shot open. She walked over to Twilight and leaned down close to her ear.

“That is confidential, Twilight, but I will tell you as soon as I can.” Princess Celestia whispered.

Twilight nodded, so Princess Celestia leaned back up.

“Well then,” Twilight turned her attention back to Charlie. “how did you end up in the Everfree Forest.”

Charlie shrugged once more and then crossed his arms. “I don’t know, Twilight.”

Twilight placed a hoof on her head and sat down. She thought for a while. After a few moments a solution came up to her mind. She stood up and beamed.

“Aha, I think I know how you survived!”

Charlie uncrossed his arms and smiled.

“You do!”

“Yes, teleportation!”

Charlie’s suddenly dropped his smile.

“Uh, I don’t think so Twilight.”

Twilight also dropped her smile.

“Why not?”

“Remember how I said that human magic is significantly weaker than pony magic.” Twilight nodded.

“Well humans can’t teleport. My mentor told me that he was never able to accomplish teleportation, and he was the strongest mage in the world.”

“Oh, well in that case I have no idea. There’s no way you could have escaped.”

Charlie smirked. “Oh and how do you know that Twilight.”

Twilight turned to her friends and motioned with her head for them to come closer to her. Once they obliged, she turned back to Charlie.

“I know because I saw your memories.”

Charlie dropped his smirk.

“But how?!”

“I found your book.” Charlie reached into his cloak, but didn’t find anything. He took it off and shook it, but nothing fell out besides some dirt.

“Huh, where did you find my book… but more importantly how did you unlock it!?”

Twilight smiled.

“I didn’t find, Rainbow did.”

She patted Rainbow on the back without turning her head.

“And it wasn’t that hard to unlock it, I’ll tell you when we get back to the library.”

Charlie chuckled.

“Wait, we?”

“Well, yeah, that explosion that Rainbow told me about must have destroyed your home. You can stay with me and Spike.” Twilight looked around and saw Spike behind her. She pulled him into a hug for Charlie to see.

“Well, that great Twilight! Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, I’m very sure!” Twilight released Spike, then looked around once more.

“Well, know I’m completely sure that’s everypony. Applejack, am I right?”

Applejack nodded.

“Yeah, that’s everypony we invited.”

“Alright! Well, I think I’m going to have a piece of cake.”

“Twilight wait!”

Twilight looked back and noticed that Rarity was whispering something to Applejack.

Applejack called out to her once more.

“Twilight please come over here.”

Twilight obliged and walked over to them. Twilight noticed that four of her friends were in a circle. She arrived to the circle, but Applejack motioned for her to come closer.

“We aren’t so sure if we trust him.” Applejack whispered.

“Well, I trust him.” Rainbow said aloud.

Applejack cringed, then lifted her head and looked around. She noticed that Charlie was at the goodies table with Pinkie Pie.

“What isn’t there to trust about him, he saved me.”

“Well,” Rarity began. “That’s  why we said…”

“WHAT!!!”

The five friends turned and watched as Pinkie Pie ran off out of the barn. In her wake was a surprised looking Charlie, who had his hand on a cupcake. With all eyes on Charlie, Twilight trotted over to him.

“What happened?” Twilight asked.

“Well, I walked over to this table, and then I was approached by Pinkie Pie, who asked if I liked the cupcakes.”

“Well, what did you tell her?”

“I told her I never had a cupcake before…” Charlie said guiltily.

“Well, yeah, I mean, who hasn’t had a cupcake before!” Pinkie Pie popped out from behind Charlie with a saddlebag on.

“Pinkie, how did you…”

“I left to get this!” Pinkie reached into her saddlebag and pulled out a sprinkle dispenser.

“Why do you need that?” Twilight asked.

“I thought it would be a nice addition for Charlie’s first cupcake.” Pinkie responded with a muffled tone.  She then hit the cupcake out of Charlie’s hand. It landed on her hoof, and as soon as it did she proceeded to sprinklify it.

“Here you go, enjoy!” Pinkie gave the cupcake back to Charlie, who stared at it. He glanced back at Pinkie, who was staring at him expectantly. He shrugged, and then unwrapped it. Once he finished unwrapping he tossed it into the air and chomped down on it.

“Wow, that’s really good!” Charlie said with a full mouth. Pinkie beamed, leaving Twilight smiling. She walked back to the circle.

“See, what’s there not to trust.”

Rarity whispered to Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. As soon as they finished they nodded, then turned back to Twilight.

“We suppose your right, but it might be a while before he gains our complete trust.”

“Thank you.” Twilight said before turning around.

“Wait one more thing Twilight.” Rarity called out. Twilight turned her head.

Rarity smiled.

“When he’s done adjusting to your home, send him over to Carousal Boutique, I think I will have the most wonderful thing for him!”

“Sure thing Rarity.” Twilight turned her head once more and noticed that somepony was staring at Charlie up close. She walked over and noticed that it was Lyra staring.

“Hi Lyra.”

Lyra turned her head.

“Oh, hi Twilight. Happy birthday.”

“What are you doing?”

Lyra turned her head and pointed at Charlie, or more so his back.

“I’m staring at him.”

Charlie noticed and turned around from the goodies table.

“Hi Twilight!”

He turned his head to Lyra.

“Oh hello, I don’t think I’ve ever met you before. What’s your name?”

Lyra smiled. “Oh, my names Lyra Heartstrings, but you can call me Lyra.”

“Oh, well hello Lyra! Nice to meet you!”

“What are you?” Lyra suddenly asked. Charlie raised an eyebrow, surprised. He then smiled.

“Oh, sorry, the only other pony to ask me that was your Princess. Well,” Charlie began. “I am a human, a species wiped out a long time ago. I am now the only human left in existence… I believe.”

Lyra stood wide eyed.

“Wow… so you’re a ‘human’.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Lyra placed a hoof under her muzzle.

“Hmm, maybe you can help me with my project!”

Charlie grinned. “Sure, but what kind of project is it?”

“I’m doing a project on different music styles, and since you’re the only human left, you can tell me all about human’s music.”

“Well, I’m not very good with musical instruments, but I can tell you what I know.”

“It’s a deal.” Lyra extended her hoof, to which Charlie didn’t know what to do. He suddenly brightened, and grabbed her hoof and shook it.

“Alright, now that that is over, I can continue eating these delicious treats.” Charlie told Twilight before he turned and grabbed another cupcake.

“O.K, maybe eating all those cupcakes wasn’t a good idea.” Charlie grabbed his stomach and made a face. Twilight giggled.

“I know how you feel.” Spike said. “Eating all that ice cream wasn’t the very best of ideas.”

“Don’t worry; I have something for that when you get back.” Twilight added.

Charlie smiled.

“Thanks Twilight.”

“So, this is where you will be sleeping.” Twilight walked Charlie to a spare bed. It was  situated in the area at the bottom of the loft stairs.

“Thank you Twilight. You know you don’t have to do this.”

“No problem Charlie, and besides, Spike can use the extra company.”

“And the extra help!” Spike added.

Charlie smiled.

Looks like I’m finally home.

“Charlie, there’s one more thing we need to get done.”

Charlie looked down at Twilight.

“Sure, what is it?”

“Come on, you’ll see. Spike, take care of the library while I’m gone.”

Twilight and Charlie exited the library into the cool dusk air. They walked in silence until they reached Carousal Boutique.

“Well, here we are.” Twilight opened the door, which opened with a jingle, notifying the owner.

“Welcome to Carousal… Twilight, Charlie, nice of you to stop by.”

“We came here so you could give Charlie his new clothes.”

Rarity smiled.

“Well, first I have to measure him. Charlie, why don’t you walk over here?”

Charlie obliged and walked into the middle of the room. He noticed the mirrors, to which they held his attention. Rarity, in the meantime, walked over to a drawer and pulled out extra long measuring tape.

“So, Charlie, how long were you wearing those clothes for?”

Charlie placed a hand on his chin.

“For a very long time ma’am.”

She walked over to him.

“Oh, and for how long?”

Rarity walked over to Charlie and begun measuring him.

“Oh, um, for a… very long time.”

Rarity stopped measuring and gave him a look.

“Fine, uh… for longer than a thousand years.”

Rarity made a disgusted face, but kept on measuring.

“You mustn’t have had a good bath then.”

“Not for a long time ma’am.”

“Please, call me Rarity.” Rarity said with a smile.

Charlie also smiled.

“Thank you ma’…Rarity.”

Rarity stopped measuring.

“I think this will work, Ooo this is so exciting.”

Rarity turned to Twilight.

“Alright Twilight, I have the most wondrous idea, but it won’t be ready until tomorrow.  Bring him by, but until then, give him a good bath. He needs one.”

Twilight nodded.

“Alright, well thanks Rarity!”

“No problem Twilight.”

Twilight and Charlie left Carousal Boutique. Charlie thought it would be a silent journey, but Twilight broke the silence.

“So, you wanted to know how I unlocked the book.”

Charlie’s interest piqued and he looked down at Twilight.

“Yes, how did you unlock it?”

“Well it wasn’t complicated, all I did was place my hoof on the heart and say what I wanted to see, and it would show me.”

“Oh, so that’s how you do it.”

“Yeah. So, do you think that Star Swirl the Bearded found that out?”

Charlie nodded.

“That’s the only way to read it. The other pages only contain names, the names of my mentor and me.”

“Oh, I didn’t notice that. I’ll look when I get back.”

The rest of the walk was in silence, but they arrived in short time. Twilight opened the door and walked in, with Charlie following suit.

“Well, Rarity told me that you have to take a bath. I doubt that she’ll let you wear your new clothes without taking one.”

Charlie sighed.

“Well, I suppose. I haven’t had a good bath in a very long, long time.”

Twilight made a face.

“How could you live with not taking a bath for so long?”

Charlie chuckled.

“I suppose one just gets used to it.”

“Well, at least you didn’t smell like Heinrich. If you smelled like him, you would have offended everypony at the party.”

Charlie laughed.

“Well, I guess you’re right.”

A door opened at the top of the stairs and out exited Spike.

“Hey guys, welcome back.”

Twilight looked up at Spike.

“Spike, will you please get Charlie a towel, he needs to take a bath.”

Spike nodded.

“Sure thing Twilight. Follow me Charlie.”

Spike walked downstairs and led Charlie to the bathroom. Twilight watched as they walked into a door and out of sight. She then began walking upstairs.

“Well, I guess I’ll look at those names while he’s taking a bath.” She opened the door and walked into the loft.

“Huh, I guess he’s right.” Twilight looked at the third page of Charlie’s book, which contained two names.

“That must be Charlie’s mentor’s name, and there’s Charlie.” Twilight turned a page back and looked at the heart. It wasn’t beating like in her dream, but it certainly felt weird.

“Huh, I wonder.” She placed her hoof on the page and thought of what she wanted to see.

She then said it out loud.

“The purge.”

Twilight received a shock, and then she removed her hoof. The book flashed, but nothing showed. Twilight looked at the book, and then flipped it over.

“I hope I didn’t break it.”

“You didn’t.” Twilight turned to the source of the voice and noticed Charlie, only this time he wasn’t wearing his faded black cloak, just baggy black clothing, which was also faded. Spike came up running from behind him and ran up the stairs.

“Twilight, you wouldn’t believe this. Just look at his hair!” Spike turned to Charlie.

“Hey Charlie, show her your hair.”

Charlie chuckled.

“Alright, fine.” He walked up the stairs into the bedroom area. Twilight noticed his hair was falling back. He then turned around and showed her his back.

“Wow Charlie, that’s very long!”

Charlie’s hair was down to his boots! He then turned back around.

“Yeah, it’s been growing slowly for a very long time, but it’s the only hair that grew. I was expecting a beard to grow after the first fifty years, but it didn’t.”

Twilight giggled.

“Well, we’ll have Rarity cut it for you. After all, you need to be ready for tomorrow.”

Charlie looked down at Twilight, then back to Spike, who shrugged.

“Why, what’s going on?”

Twilight smiled, then answered his question.

“We’re going to Canterlot!”

Charlie jumped.

“Are you sure about that, I mean I’ve never been to Canterlot.”

“Yeah, don’t worry. As long as you’re with me you’ll be fine.”

Charlie’s frown changed into a smile.

“Well, alright, but what’s the occasion?”

“Princess Celestia invited us to a yacht ride!”

Charlie placed a hand on his chin.

“What’s a yacht?” Charlie asked.

“A ship!” Twilight enthusiastically said.

“Oh, you mean on water?”

“Nope, in the air!”

“…”

“WHAT!!!”

Well this is disappointing.

Discord stood still, absolutely still. It wasn’t because he wanted to, it was because he couldn’t move. Most of his body was frozen in stone. The only exceptions were his claw, his paw, one of his eyes and one of his ears. There was a crack on his mouth, but that never broke.

Hold on, what’s this.

He noticed two guards walking in his direction. They stopped in front of him but didn’t face him.

“Did you hear, Princess Celestia is going on a ride in a yacht.

How convenient.

“Yeah I heard. I also heard that Twilight Sparkle is going as well, along with a new friend.”

“I heard that this friend caused an explosion, and the shockwave reached Canterlot.”

So he’s the one responsible for this. Maybe he’s the one I should be “thanking”.

“Well when is it?”

“Tomorrow.”

Perfect.