What if....

Lyra ran for her life, but when she reached the tunnel she stopped. She was breathing heavily due to an adrenaline rush, but she found enough air to finally say something.

“I think we lost him!”

“I don’t think he was ever following us in the first place.” Lyra turned her head to the source of the voice, Doctor Hooves, who was also catching his breath.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean he probably could have caught up to us if he wanted to.”

“Oh and how do you know?!” Vinyl Scratch, who was behind Doctor Hooves, asked agitated.

“I don’t, but he didn’t follow us did he?”

“I-I suppose your right.”

“Good, now let’s do a head count.”

Doctor Hooves proceeded to call out names of who he saw.

“Lyra, Vinyl, Bon-Bon, Octavia…. Oh no.”

“What, what’s wrong?” Lyra asked.

“Where’s Derpy?”

Lyra felt her heart jump when Doctor Hooves asked. She glanced around, but there was no sign of Derpy.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!!!” Vinyl shouted.

Octavia shook her head in denial.

“Come on, we have to go rescue her!” She said.

Lyra, however, stopped Octavia.

“No, we can’t, he might hurt us.”

“Well then, what do you expect us to do?” Octavia asked angrily.

“We’re going to have to get more help, and then we’ll come back for Derpy.”

“Well, who are we going to get help from?”

“Twilight!”

“SPIKE!!! SPIIIIIKE!!!”

“I’m coming Twilight… sheesh.”

Spike carried a small platter with a tea pot and cup on it. He walked up the stairs to the loft and placed the platter on Twilight’s bed.

“Thanks Spike.”

“Do you need anything else?” Spike asked.

“What?!”

“I said do you need anything else!!”

“Oh, sorry Spike. Remember, I can’t really hear you with this infection.”

“I know I know.”

“What?!”

“Nothing, never mind!”

Spike walked down the stairs and out of the loft. He then walked into the main area, where Charlie was sitting down.

“So, how is she?”

Spike shrugged.

“I think she’s getting better.”

Charlie lowered his book and gave Spike a skeptical look.

“Oh, fine. She’s worse than yesterday.”

Charlie raised his book back up.

“I really think we should get her a doctor.”

“But she said that she would be fine.”

Charlie placed his book on the floor and sighed.

“I know, but we really shouldn’t be too carefree. She needs a doctor, no matter how bad the sickness is.”

“You act like if you’ve never been sick before.” Spike said before he closed his eyes and crossed his arms in triumph.

“Well, that’s because I haven’t.”

Spike opened his eyes, surprised.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I’ve never been sick before. Not since I could remember.”

“That is cool! I wish I could never get sick.”

Charlie chuckled.

“So, which one of us is going to get the doctor?” he suddenly asked.

Spike thought about it for a minute.

“Right now, at 7:00 o’clock?”

Charlie nodded.

“Draw straws?” Spike asked.

“Sure.”

Spike ran into another room for a minute and emerged with a closed claw.

“Alright, you go first.”

Charlie pulled out a straw from the small group of straws Spike had. Spike pulled next and dropped the extra straws.

“Alright, let’s see who pulled the shortest.”

Spike grabbed the straw from Charlie’s hand and compared it to his.

“Aw, I got the shorter one… best two out of three?”

Charlie laughed, but shook his head.

“Naw, why don’t you do it?”

“Oh fine, tell Twilight I’ll be right back.”

“Will do Spike.”

Spike walked towards the door, but right when he was about to open it, it was opened by somepony else and, in the process, slammed Spike into the wall.

“Twilight, Twilight!”

“Oh, hello Lyra, how was your trip?” Charlie asked as he walked up to Lyra.

“No time, I need to speak to Twilight!”

“Well, she’s kinda sick right now, why, what’s wrong?”

“What, what happened?” Lyra asked.

“She got some kind of infection in her head, makes her hear less.”

“Oh, well, then you need to help me!”

Charlie kneeled down.

“What’s wrong Lyra?” he asked.

“We believe Derpy was pony napped!”

Charlie thought about it for a moment.

“Who’s Derpy?”

Lyra shook her head rapidly.

“She’s my friend, but that isn’t the point right now. The main reason why I came here was because I needed Twilight’s help!”

“But she’s sick.”

“Yes!”

“Well, since she’s sick, maybe I can help you.”

Lyra face hoofed.

“Alright, what’s the problem.”

“Derpy was pony napped!”

“By who?”

“Another human!”

“WHAT!” Charlie yelled, surprised.

“Yeah, another human!”

Spike walked out from behind the door, disgruntled.

“I’m going to go get the doctor, be careful Charlie.”

Charlie watched Spike walk out the door, then turned back to Lyra.

“Where!” Charlie asked.

“At the ruin.” Lyra responded.

“Well then, what are we waiting for, let’s go!”

Charlie pushed through a small tree branch as he moved through a small forest.

“Charlie, are you sure this is the way?” Lyra called out from behind him.

“You shouldn’t question him Lyra.” Octavia said from next to Lyra.

“I know, but…”

“You must have gone a different way Lyra, as this is the path I always took.”

“Oh.”

“Look, there’s the cave!” Bon-Bon called out.

“Ah, you’re right, ehhh…”

“Bon-Bon.”

“Nice to meet you Bon-Bon…” Charlie glanced behind Bon-Bon.

“I’ll learn your guy’s names after we save Derpy.”

Everypony behind Bon-Bon nodded.

“Yeah, alright, let’s save Derpy!!” Vinyl called out.

Charlie led the group through the cave and eventually to the entrance to the cavern of the ruin.

“Alright guys, take much care, I don’t know who escaped.”

Everypony nodded.

“Alrighty then, let’s go!”

Charlie walked into the small entrance and into the cavern. He stepped aside as the others walked through the entrance.

“Charlie, I was wondering, what is this?” Lyra asked.

Charlie chuckled.

“Well, I believe it is a ruin of a great tower, and that there,” he pointed at the ruin. “is the top of the tower.

“Was the entire tower made out of stone?” Octavia asked.

Charlie shook his head.

“No, but I’m guessing that it’s made out of stone because of the purge.”

“The purge?” Octavia asked.

“Heh, it’s a long story.”

Charlie glanced at the tower top.

“Well, let’s get going guys.”

The group walked down to the ruin, but suddenly Charlie stopped in his tracks, stopping the rest of the group.

“Hey guys, do you hear something?”

Everypony listened for a moment. Suddenly the sound of crying filled their ears.

“That sounds like Derpy!” Doctor Hooves called out.

“Come on, let’s go!” Charlie called out.

The group picked up speed and jumped up the balcony. They ran into the ruin, where the crying suddenly got louder.

“Derpy, we’re here!!” Doctor Hooves called out.

“I’m over here!” They ran towards the shaky voice and found Derpy, who was next to a small pile of bones. Octavia ran up to Derpy and gave her hug.”

“Derpy, I’m so glad you’re okay!”

“I’m fine.”

Charlie scanned the area around them.

“Where’s the other human, Derpy?”

“He left a while ago; he said something about going to Ponyville.”

“Did he do anything bad to you?” Vinyl asked.

“No, he just scared me, oh and he took our muffins.” Derpy sniffled.

Octavia smiled.

“Don’t worry; I’ll get us some more muffins.”

Octavia took Derpy out of the ruin with the group following. Once they reached the balcony, Octavia spoke up.

“What did he do?”

Derpy looked up into Octavia’s eyes, and then glanced back down.

“He took our food, our muffins.”

“OK, what else did he first do?”

Derpy sniffled.

“Well, first he…”

“Ah-ah-ah, who said you could leave.”

Derpy suddenly felt a tug on her tail and she fell down. She tried to look back, but she was hanging in midair.

“Who’s doing that?” she asked nopony in particular.

“I am…” a voice suddenly said. She felt herself suddenly move as she came face to face with the evil human she was flying away from.

“AH, get away from me!” Derpy yelled, yet the only response she got was some light laughing.

“Ah, talking horses, now I have seen everything.”

“Hey! I’m not a horse I’m a pony!”

The human gave her a sour look.

“Bah, like it matters!”

“It does matter, there’s a difference.”

The human shook his head.

“Anyvays…” Derpy suddenly fell to the ground.

“I have more pressing matters to attend to.”

Derpy got up rubbed the leg she landed on. She stopped when she suddenly heard the rumbling of a stomach. She looked up at the human, who was rubbing his stomach.

“I’m quite hungry,”

Derpy glanced behind her, and then got an idea.

Maybe I can share some of my food with him!

She removed her saddlebag and backpack, and then went through the backpack. Soon she pulled out a muffin.

“Uh, excuse me sir.” The human looked down.

“Eh, vhat?”

“You can have this if you want.” Derpy placed the muffin on the floor. The human eyed it, and then picked it up.

“Oh, you certainly are a kind horse.”

The human took a small bite out of the muffin, then took a larger one.

“Mmm, quite delicious.”

The human finished his muffin, then begun to lick his finger.

“Thank you horse.”

“I’m a pony…”

“Vhat vas zhat.”

“I said I’m a pony.” Derpy said assertively.

“Yes, right… well then pony, I’m going to need you to give me all your food.”

Derpy frowned.

“What, why?”

“Because, I’m starving! Now give it here!” The human suddenly reached on his back and a pulled out a large sword. He pointed it at Derpy, who suddenly became very afraid.

“Alright, fine…” Derpy moved to the side while the human began scavenging through the backpack. A tear came to her eye when she saw him tossing aside stuff and eating the food. He ate and ate until there was only oats and hay left.

“Much better!” The human proclaimed while he got up. He tossed aside an apple core before he turned back to Derpy and spoke up.

“Alright little pony, you’re going to answer a few of my questions.” Derpy nodded.

“Good to see you understand. Alright,” the human began. “Vhere am I?”

“You’re in Equestria.” Derpy answered.

The human seemed puzzled.

“Okkayyyy, well, who inhabits Equestria?”

“Ponies, and that includes Pegasi, Earth Ponies and Unicorns.”

The human placed a hand on his chin.

“Unicorns huh, well, who is the leader of this country?”

“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, of course!”

“Alright, vhere can I find zhese leaders?”

“In Canterlot?”

“Okay, where is Canterlot?”

“It is on the mountain north of Ponyville, you can’t miss it!” Derpy proclaimed.

“Alright, vhere is zhis ‘Ponyville’?” The human asked.

“It’s just south of here.”

“Alright, just one last thing. Vhere are the humans?”

Derpy didn’t answer at first.

“Vell?” The human began to tap his foot.

“I-I don’t know, the only human I know of is Charlie.”

“Charlie, huh.” The human began to think for a while, and then glanced back to Derpy.

“Alright, see pony, zhat wasn’t zhat hard.”

“I suppose your right.”

“But if I find out that you told any of your friends this, I will come back for you!” He said up close to her face, and then turned around and left.

“So that’s what he did?” Charlie asked.

“That’s awful!” Octavia said astonished.

Doctor Hooves began pacing.

“So he’s heading over to Ponyville right now!”

Derpy nodded.

“Well then, we better catch him before he decides to do anything bad.”

“No,” Charlie interjected. “I’m taking this into my hands now.” He turned to Derpy.

“Don’t worry, he won’t do any harm to anypony else.”

Derpy sniffled.

“Thanks Charlie.”

Charlie smiled,

“No problem.”

Elsewhere near the town of Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash was flying low, enjoying the great feeling of flying. Something dark, however, caught her attention. She flew up to it quickly and landed right next to it, which turned out to be…

“Charlie, what’s up?”

Charlie turned his head left and right, then turned back to Rainbow.

“Uh, good…”

“Charlie, what’s wrong with your voice?”

Charlie chuckled.

“Nothing, I just have a bad cold.”

“Oh, alright.”

“Hey, uh….” “Charlie” looked at Rainbow’s mane from under his cloak. “Rainbow…. Can you tell me vhere I can find out information about the princesses?”

Rainbow giggled.

“What’s with the accent?”

“Oh, I am just practicing new accents from other places.”

“Oh, cool. Well anyways, you can find out about the princesses from Twilight.”

“Where does ‘Twilight’ live?”

“What do you mean, where does she live, you live with her!”

“Oh, right, well thank you Rainbow, I must get going now.”

“Are you lost?”

“Charlie” looked left and right again.

“Yeah, I’m lost, I have short memory.”

“Alright, well, Twilight lives in the big tree, to make it easy on you.”

“Right, well thank you Rainbow, I must be on my way.”

Rainbow watched as “Charlie” walked off towards town.

“That didn’t seem like Charlie.”