What if....

Charlie walked up to the top of a hill.

“There it is, Ponyville.” He turned to the group behind him.

“Anypony have the time?”

Doctor Hooves nodded, and then lifted a hoof to look at the watch on his forearm.

“Yeah, it’s 12:00 o’clock.”

“Huh, in record time… Alrighty then, Everypony, listen up!”

Everypony gave Charlie their attention.

“I don’t know what Dmitri is up to, but this problem is now in my hands.”

“Aw, but why?” Lyra pouted.

“I’m afraid he might do harm to you guys, and I don’t want you guys to get injured.”

“Oh, come on, we can take him on!” Vinyl shouted.

“No, I’m sorry, but I can’t let you do that.”

“Well, can we at least follow you?” Doctor Hooves asked.

“I, uh……. fine, but you may not intervene.”

“Alright, cool.” Vinyl said before they all walked up next to Charlie.

“First, we have to go to Twilight’s.”

4 & 1/2 hours earlier.

“Let me go you creep!” Rainbow shouted while she desperately tried to escape her captor’s magical grasp.

“No, you are part of plan.”

Rainbow struggled more and more, yet she couldn’t get out of the grasp. She then thought of another solution.

“Help, somepony help!!”

“Shut up pony! You vill get me in trouble!”

“Yeah, that’s the point! Ehem… HELP!!!”

“You better quiet down pony, or else!”

“Or else what?!”

“Or else I vill slice you up and feed you to dogs!”

“Oh yeah, you and what weapon?” Rainbow asked with a bit of doubt in her voice.

“This weapon.” Rainbow’s captor reached onto his back and slowly pulled out a sword.

“Oh…”

“Now keep down, and you are going to answer all my questions.”

“Alright, fine.”

“Good, now are your leaders immortal?” Rainbow’s captor asked.

“Yes.” Rainbow replied.

“Excellent, now do they live in zhat mountain castle?” Her captor pointed with his sword at Canterlot.

“What, you mean Canterlot, yes, they do.”

“Alright, how can ve get up there?”

“There’s a train that goes to Canterlot, but I don’t think they’ll let you go in like this.”

“Oh, vith hostage it makes it easier.”

“Ugh, great.”

4 & ½ hours later.

“Alright everypony, you all stay out here, I’ll speak to Twilight.”

Charlie opened the door and walked into the library. He stood still for a minute before he closed the door. Immediately as soon as he closed the door he noticed how quiet it was. He waited for a few more minutes, and then he broke the silence.

“Twilight, Spike!!”

It remained quiet, so Charlie decided to walk up the stairs. He did so, and then opened the door to the loft. He walked in, but didn’t close the door, for as soon as he walked in, he heard the front door open.

“Charlie!”

“Twilight?!” Charlie walked back down the stairs and saw Twilight, with Spike sitting on her back, standing in the doorway.

“Twilight, you’re out of bed, what happened.”

“I told you I would be fine, but that isn’t the point something serious happened!”

“What, what’s wrong?” Charlie asked.

“Rainbow’s been ponynapped!”

“What!”

“Yes, she’s been ponynapped by another human!”

“Dmitri…”

“Who?” Twilight asked, confused.

“Twilight, did a human come by here earlier?”

“Yeah, but I thought it was you.”

“I’m so sorry Charlie, it’s my fault!” Spike cried out.

“It’s alright, but what happened.”

“He asked me to help him find Rainbow Dash, it’s my fault!”

“It’s not your fault… Twilight, where’s Rainbow being held captive?”

“Canterlot!”

Charlie took in the information for a few seconds, and then turned back to Twilight and Spike.

“Alright, we have to go save Rainbow. First, though, let me tell the ponies outside.

Charlie opened the door and walked outside, where the ponies were waiting.

“Guys, there’s a big situation going on in Canterlot. Rainbow Dash has been ponynapped!” Everypony gasped.

“Yes, and now Twilight, Spike and I have to go save her. You all must stay here.”

Everypony nodded and headed in their separate directions. Once they did Charlie turned back to Twilight.

“Alright, how are we going to get to Canterlot?”

“Princess Celestia has sent a chariot; it’s waiting for us in the town square.”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Charlie sat in the chariot nervously. Every so often he would look down, scared that they were so high above the ground.

“You alright Charlie?” Twilight asked.

“Yeah, I just have a question for you.”

“Alright go ahead and ask.”

“Why couldn’t the guards take care of this… you know, with their magic?” Charlie asked.

“The princess sent a letter to me right when I got up. I remember what it said. It said…

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

A situation has arisen in Canterlot. It appears that Rainbow Dash has been kidnapped by a human. It also appears that he wants something in return for her. I have sent a chariot to pick you and Charlie up.

Please hurry,

Princess Celestia.

“So she needs my help?”

“Yes, it appears that way.”

“Well, how long were you waiting for me?” Charlie asked.

“For an hour, me and Twilight were searching for you.” Spike responded.

“Spike, I need you to tell me what Dmitri told you, maybe he told you his intentions.”

Spike shook his head.

“He didn’t say anything… oh, he say something when I mentioned Heinrich though.”

“Oh, what did he say?”

“Well, he asked where he was, but when I said he was gone, he said he was now the leader of something.” Spike said.

“What’s that?”

“He said he was now the leader of something called the OFE.”

“What!” Charlie shouted, shocked.

“Charlie, I’ve heard this OFE quite a few times, what is it?”

At first Charlie didn’t respond, but soon the shock wore off.

“The Order of the Free and Eternal, a group formed by the assassin of Emperor John.”

“What were their ideals?” Twilight asked.

“They wanted to keep the 5 kingdoms free from the grasps of tyranny. They did anything to keep this possible, including war.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, intrigued.

“The leader of the Western Kingdom, or I really shouldn’t call it that. It was a democracy, but it was led by a king by the name of Randall. He was the grandson of the founder of the OFE, and he caused the war with the North and the South, but formed an alliance with the East to ensure victory.”

“Wow,” Spike said, astounded.

“Well, that covers the ‘free’ part, there’s still the ‘eternal’ part.”

“What’s the ‘eternal’ part?” Spike asked.

“Their second ideal was to obtain immortality, and in any way possible.”

“Something tells me that if this Dmitri is the same one in your memory, then the purge may not have been an accident.” Twilight suddenly said.

“He is… I still can’t believe Dmitri is in the OFE, he betrayed my mentor’s trust.”

“Ma’am,” a guard suddenly spoke up. Everybody looked at the guard.

“Yes sir.”

“We’re here.”

“If any of you come closer, I’ll slit her throat!”

Charlie walked closer with Twilight and Spike towards the source of the voice near Canterlot Castle. They finally caught sight of the scene, though there were hundreds of ponies who surrounded it. Twilight, Charlie and Spike all walked through the crowd and saw Princess Celestia, who was surrounded by guards.

“Princess!” Twilight walked up next to the princess, with the other two following.

“Twilight Sparkle, Charlie, Spike, so good to see you.”

“What’s going on?”

“This human wants immortality, and if I don’t give it to him, he’ll kill Rainbow Dash.”

“We have to stop him!”

“We will, but first, I need Charlie to speak to him, maybe even speak him out of it.”

Charlie looked at the princess.

“Alright Princess, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Good, now go and speak, we’ll watch over you.”

Charlie nodded, and then walked through guards, who also formed a circle around Dmitri and Rainbow. He then approached Dmitri, but from a distance.

Dmitri noticed, and as soon as he noticed Charlie he smiled.

“Prince Charles!? It has been a while boy, how have you been?”

“Good Mage Dmitri. I have a question for you though.”

“Go ahead.

“Why do you hold Rainbow Dash as a hostage?”

“I need immortality from zhese… horses.” He spat out.

“Dmitri, they are stronger than us, why do you do this.”

“No zhey aren’t, zhey are just horses.”

“Don’t underestimate them, Dmitri; they have power that you could not reckon.”

“Bah, they are just horses.”

“You must give me Rainbow Dash, Dmitri, before they give you their wrath.”

“Yeah, tell him to release me, he smells anyways.” Rainbow Dash suddenly shouted.

“You’re not helping Rainbow.” Charlie said through his teeth.

Dmitri smirked.

“Are you siding with them Prince Charles?”

“Yes, Dmitri…I still cannot believe that you betrayed my mentor by siding with the OFE.”

“You mentor was a fool, he sided with a weaker power, one zhat vouldn’t win the var… anyvays, I’ll tell you vhat. If you can defeat me in a sword fight, then I vill give you Rainbow, if not, zhen I get immortality from the leader.” Once Dmitri finished, he looked at Princess Celestia expectantly. She looked back with an annoyed complexion, but she nodded.

Everypony gasped.

“Princess, what are you doing?” A guard asked.

“Don’t worry, I know what to do.”

“Excellent.” Dmitri said. He then began to take off his cloak, revealing a sword handle sticking out from his back and a sheathed knife.

“Uh, hold on a minute.”  Charlie turned around to the princess.

“Can you spare a sword?”

Princess Celestia nodded, and then turned her head to a guard next to her.

“Swift Sword, please give your sword to Charlie.”

Swift Sword nodded, and then walked up to Charlie.

“Please take care of it.”

Charlie nodded, then bent down and took the sword from Swift.

“Thank you Swift.” He turned around, but suddenly Dmitri began laughing.

“What?”

“You call zhat a sword; it is more of a knife. I’ll tell you vhat, I’ll use my knife.”

Charlie looked at his sword.

“It’s a very large knife.”

“So is mine.”

Dmitri slowly unsheathed his knife, which turned out to be a large knife, just like he said.

“Go ahead, make your move.” Dmitri seethed.

At first, nobody made a move, and silence overtook the area. Charlie however, broke it.

“YEAHH!” Charlie charged forward and swung his blade. It swished through the air and stuck another blade with a loud clink. Dmitri took the chance and swung his left fist. Charlie ducked quickly enough, though, and Dmitri’s fist met air. Charlie took a chance and disengaged the blades, and quickly swung his sword. He smiled as it met cloth, but frowned quickly after as he realized his mistake. Dmitri swung down and struck Charlie’s head with the handle of his knife. A loud ding resounded through the silence and an oooo, resonated from the crowd. Charlie fell to the ground, unconscious.

“Heh, zhat vas short… the warrior taught you vell.” Dmitri said in between breath. “but not good enough.”

Dmitri glanced up to the princess.

“Hah, I von! Now vith my immortality.”

Celestia smiled.

“Alright, you won Charlie fair and square, now for your reward.”

A gasp resounded through the crowd.

“But princess, why!”

“Don’t worry Twilight.”

Celestia’s horn began to glow and light began to surround Dmitri.

“Yes, finally!!”

A loud whirling sound echoed throughout the castle grounds. Princess Celestia’s horn flared and Dmitri was lifted off the ground.

“THE POWER!!!” He yelled.

Suddenly it abruptly ended, but Celestia’s magic stayed on him.

“Vhat’s going on!?” He yelled.

“This.” A loud ding was heard and Dmitri fell to the ground, unconscious.