What if....

1 day later

“Alright, you ready Charlie?”

“Yes Twilight.”

Charlie closed his eyes and focused. He lifted one of his arms and opened his hand. A few minutes passed before he opened his eyes again and sighed in frustration.

“Ugh, Twilight, this is very hard,” he complained.

“Yes, I know. It’s going to be hard, but you must try. By the way, why did you lift your arm like that?” Twilight asked. Charlie lowered his arm.

“Humans need a conduit to focus their magical energy. Unicorns use their horns, right?”

Twilight nodded.

“Right, well my mentor taught me how to use my arms and hands as conduits, just like he learned from Emperor John. Other’s find it easier to use magical instruments to focus their energy, like staves and wands… along with knives and swords, just like Mage Dmitri.”

“Magical instruments, huh…” Twilight thought for a minute, then looked back up to Charlie.

“Anyways, I’ve heard you mention Emperor John quite a few times. Who was Emperor John?”

“Oh, it’s a long story, but I’m pretty sure you won’t mind.”

Charlie reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his book.

“First, I think it would be nice if I showed you the map of the world I lived in.”

He opened the book to the heart and touched it. He then released it, letting it fall to the ground.

“Charlie, be careful with the book!” Twilight cringed when the book hit the ground.

“Oh, don’t worry; it has a protection spell on it.”

The book began to glow lightly, and then it slowly lifted up. It shot light at a nearby chalkboard, producing a projection of a map. Twilight walked up to the map, awestruck on how detailed it was.

“This is the map of the world I lived it.” Charlie pointed at the map.

“You can see the North, South, East, West, and Middle Kingdoms.”

“Volgaeria, Osman, Wu, Javria, and Sylmar, respectively.”

Charlie smiled.

“You are quite a meticulous pony Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight beamed.

“Well, if you look to the west, there is a peninsula, to which I don’t know the name. Anyways, there is a huge city there that I call the Great City. It was ruled by Emperor John, who had the great idea of uniting the peninsula and living in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, he was assassinated by the OFE before he could realize his dream. Now, because of his assassination, the city fell into the hands of rioters. The city was looted, but before any of the greedy rioters could escape, something happened.”

Charlie paused, and then touched the projection, which zoomed it in. It showed a valley, and in the middle of the valley was the half of a bubble.

“The evil and corruption there caused a magnificent thing to happen. A sudden force killed all the rioters left all the loot there. Many have tried to enter the city, but the bubble prevented them from entering.”

Charlie finished, leaving Twilight Sparkle amazed.

“Wow, that’s so amazing… wait a second.”

Twilight ran upstairs, leaving Charlie wondering. She returned a minute later, however, with a scroll in tow.

“What’s that?” Charlie asked

“It’s the map of Equestria that Princess Celestia gave me.” Twilight said as she walked over to the center of the room. She placed the scroll on the center table there and opened it.

“What does the map of Equestria have to do with… no way.”

Charlie ran over to Twilight.

“There, see.” Twilight pointed with a hoof on something west of the continent.

“That’s impossible. How could it have survived the purge?”

“I don’t know, but I do have a question.”

Charlie nodded, so Twilight continued.

“How can we get in?”

“What!!!” Charlie suddenly shouted. His outburst caught the attention of Spike, who was upstairs.

“What’s going on?” He asked while he walked down the stairs.

“Twilight wants to go to an ancient human ruin!”

“Oh cool, can I go?”

“Uh, I don’t know, can he Charlie?”

“NO!!!”

“Aw, but why not.”

“This place is rumored to be the city of death! Those who go in never return!”

“And who started this rumor?” Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“I…. don’t know.”

“Exactly, I’ll get Princess Celestia’s permission, and then we can go.”

Charlie watched as Twilight trotted over to a desk. She pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill.

“E-hem,

Dear Princess Celestia,

Charlie has informed me of a human city marked on the Equestrian map. He has told me of untold riches that this city is rumored to have, both of monetary and…”

Twilight turned to Charlie and looked at him expectantly. Charlie sighed.

“Yes, there is a grand library there.”

Twilight smiled.

“…knowledgeable value. I await your response.

Your most faithful student,

Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight rolled up the scroll and gave it to Spike, who sent it immediately. She then turned to Charlie.

“Well, you never answered my question, how do we get in.”

Charlie sighed once more.

“There’s no stopping you is there. Fine, I’ll tell you.”

Charlie walked over to the projection, and touched the bubble. It suddenly disintegrated, showing city.

“In order to gain entrance, the user must be an excellent user in magic.

“Oh, that shouldn’t be so hard.” Twilight said with a wave of a hoof.

“So, are you sure I can’t go.” Spike asked. Charlie frowned.

“I’m sorry Spike, but you can’t go, it’s too dangerous.”

“Fine.” Spike crossed his arms.

“You can stay here while we’re gone, Spike.”

Spike undid his arms and waddled away, saddened.

“Are you sure we couldn’t take him?” Twilight asked.

Charlie shook his head.

“I don’t know what’s in there, and besides….”

Burp!

“Ooo, looks like the letter is here.”

Spike walked over to Twilight and handed over the scroll, then walked away, still discontented. Twilight watched as he walked away, and then opened the scroll.

“Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I know of the city of which you speak of. It is a forbidden area, but I trust your judgment in going there. I’ll  be sending for a ship to transport you there. It shall be waiting for you in Vanhoover.

Please take care,

Princess Celestia.”

Twilight finished with a smile. She turned to Charlie.

“Well, shall we get ready. Oh, and I’ll get my friends.”

Charlie shook his head and face palmed.