What if....

Part 5… What if they could bring him back?

“So that is what I saw in Rainbow Dash’s dream sister?”

“Yes Luna, that human is who you saw.”

“Why do you tell me now… and should we tell Twilight and her friends?”

“All in due time sister.”

Twilight Sparkle held the book close to her chest while tears ran down her face. She heard hooves walking up to her and felt a hoof on her back.

“Ah’m sorry Twilight.” Applejack said while she rubbed Twilight’s back in a comforting manner.

“We never should have gone there. He warned me, but I didn’t listen, and now, he’s gone…*sniff *.”

Ding Ding

“We’re here, Twilight… why don’t we go see the princess.”

“*Sniff*, alright, fine.”

Twilight got up and walked up to the door, with the rest of her friends following. Twilight walked to the side of the door and stood; her friends doing the same. Twilight watched as the guards walked with the coffin in tow. A guard approached her.

“Miss Twilight, where do you wish for us to take the coffin?” he asked.

“Follow us; we’re going to go see the princess.” Rainbow Dash spoke up for Twilight. Twilight smiled, then turned and walked in the direction of Canterlot Castle.

Ponies watched curiously as Twilight and her friends led guards, who were carrying a coffin in their magical grasp. Two ponies, however, noticed, and walked up to Twilight.

“Twilight, who’s in the coffin?” Lyra asked.

“Charlie, he’s… he’s dead. He’s in the coffin.”

“Oh my.” Bon-Bon gasped.

“What happened!?” Lyra asked, shocked.

“We went somewhere, and… and, Charlie warned me not to go there, and now it’s my fault *sniff*.”

“Twilight, it’s not your fault. None of us could have anticipated what had happened,” Rarity comforted Twilight.

Twilight smiled at Rarity, then turned and began to walk towards Canterlot Castle once more, leaving Lyra and Bon-Bon stunned.

“When will that…” Princess Luna never finished, for the door opened, revealing Twilight Sparkle, who had her head down.

“Twilight Sparkle, my most faithful student, how was the journey?”

“…”

Princess Celestia looked at her little sister, and then glanced back at Twilight.

“Bring it in,” a voice called out. Celestia watched as the rest of Twilight’s friends walked in, then four guards walked in, carrying a coffin. Princess Celestia immediately frowned.

“Twilight, who is in the coffin?”

“Charlie.” Twilight responded sadly.

“What happened?”

Twilight looked up into Princess Celestia’s eyes with sadness.

“Heinrich returned and killed Charlie. We used magic from the Elements of Harmony to defeat Heinrich.”

“Did it destabilize the island?” Princess Luna asked.

“What?”

“What happened to the island?” Princess Celestia asked.

“It sunk after a while.”

“Just as I suspected.” Princess Luna said.

Twilight Sparkle opened up her eyes widely.

“You knew?!”

Princess Luna glanced at her older sister.

“Yes, we knew.”

“Why didn’t you tell us this before?! Maybe we could have avoided Charlie’s death if we had known!” Twilight shouted, surprised.

“We didn’t know that Heinrich would return, Twilight. You must understand this.”

Princess Celestia got up, and began to walk over towards the group. Princess Celestia then turned and began to walk towards the coffin. Once she reached it, the guards placed it down. She used her magic to open the coffin and glanced inside. She sighed.

“I’m so sorry Twilight.”

“It…. It’s alright, Princess, it’s not your fault either. It’s my fault. If I had listened to him, this could have been avoided.”

Princess Celestia glanced over to her sister. Luna nodded, so Princess Celestia nodded back and then began to walk away.

Twilight looked up and rubbed her eyes.

“Princess… where are you going?”

“Follow me Twilight, and guards, bring the coffin.”

Twilight glanced back at her friends, who looked at her, confused.

“Come on girls… let’s… let’s go.”

Twilight followed the princesses out of the throne room. She followed, and after a few minutes they stopped in front of another door. Twilight glanced around, and then looked at Princess Celestia.

“Princess, what are… *Sniff*, are we doing at the entrance to the royal garden?”

“Don’t worry Twilight, it’ll all be alright.”

Princess Celestia opened the door and walked inside, with Princess Luna and the ponies following.

Twilight walked in and immediately turned and glared in one direction.

“Uh Twilight, you…” Applejack trailed off as soon as she noticed something interesting.

“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, what’s going on?” Applejack asked the princesses, for they were also glaring in the same direction as Twilight.

“Nothing,” Princess Celestia recovered. “Just felt something, that’s is all.”

Princess Celestia began walking again. Princess Luna bounded up to her.

“Sister, there’s no way that he’s here.”

“Yes, I believe that’s him.”

“Twilight, what was that about?” Applejack asked curiously.

“I… I felt something, Applejack.” Twilight wavered.

“What was it?”

“I don’t know, Applejack, I don’t know.”

Twilight watched as Princess Celestia walked up to a wall, where a vine and numerous objects were sticking out of it.

“Princess, is that a pomegranate vine?”

“Very observant, Twilight, yes it is a pomegranate vine.”

“What is a pomegranate vine doing here?” Twilight, who was no longer crying, asked.

“I found something on one of my ventures Twilight. I have only told Princess Luna about it, but now it’s time that I told you.”

Yellow magic enveloped a pomegranate. Princess Celestia pulled it off and let it hover in front of her.

“Long ago, when the Tower of the Weather was destroyed…”

Princess Celestia watched as the guards, Shining Armor, and Rainbow Dash walked towards the town. She had sent them check on the town to make sure that nopony had seen the incident.

“I hope nopony else was hurt in this…”

She then turned her head towards Sweet Apple Acres.

“Twilight should be awakening soon… I think I shall go check on her.”

Princess Celestia began to walk towards Sweet Apple Acres, but turned her head towards the hole one last time.

“I suppose I will have to clean this up… wait a second.”

She squinted, for it was rather dark. Her horn began to glow. She produced a spell and suddenly everything became bright to her.

“The plants! They should have been destroyed in that incident… something’s not right.”

Princess Celestia’s horn began to glow. The yellow magic began to encapsulate her. Suddenly her horn flared. A sudden clap of sound and flash of light emanated from her position… yet she didn’t teleport. Rather she faked a teleportation spell and produced an invisibility spell again. She stood still and waited. After 10 minutes the plants began to move. Suddenly the bush began morphing. A short human wearing a wooden mask, a green cloak and wielding a wooden staff suddenly leaned up from the small plant.

“What’s going on?!”

The tree also began to morph. With Celestia’s light spell she could she as a very tall human came from the tree. It was cloaked from the head down in a black tattered cloak.

“Are the ponies gone?” A voice called out.

The cloaked figure nodded.

“Yes, they are,” he said in a very similar voice.

Suddenly light appeared from behind the cloaked human. Another human appeared, this one wearing a cerulean cloak, except his face was visible. He was a long haired individual with a scruffy beard.

“So, what do we do now?” the blue cloaked human asked.

“Why must you ask such questions?” the short human barked back in the same voice as the other two.

“What, do you forget his position?” the tall human asked calmly.

“I honestly don’t know why you like his company, he’s Forgetful,” the short one pointed at the blue cloaked human.

“He’s really a nice person,” the tall one responded.

“What are you guys talking about?” The blue asked.

“Nothing, don’t worry about it.” The tall one said.

“He’s also oblivious too.”

“Silence.”

“So, what are we here for again?” The forgetful one asked.

“We are here to take back the soul of Charles Alfredson… if he’s dead.” The short one responded.

“So that’s his last name.”

Silence ensued before the three humans, but after a minute the forgetful one spoke up.

“So what now?”

“Well we find out where he is… if he’s dead.”

“Then why are we here?” The forgetful one kept on.

“Shut it Forgetful!”

The tall one turned towards the short one, as if he were glaring at him.

“Oh fine… I’m sorry Forgetful.” The short one apologized.

“So is he dead?” the forgetful one asked.

“No.”

“He’s alive!?”

“Oh, where is he?”

“He’s in that forest over there.” The tall one pointed towards the Everfree Forest. “He’s on the forest floor surrounded by fallen trees. In his arms is a pony named Swift Sword, also alive.”

“Thank goodness!”

“So if he’s alive why are we here?”

The short one shook his head.

“We are here to make sure that he is alive, and to clean up this mess.” The tall one answered calmly.

“Oh, okay.”

“Alright good, now that that is over, let’s clean up this mess.”

Celestia watched as the tall one, the short one and the forgetful one all turned towards the hole. The tall one and the short one raised their arms. The forgetful one, however, didn’t seem to help them.

“Huh, I wonder if I can do this...”

Celestia quickly cast a spell on herself to muffle her hoofsteps. She then began to walk towards the forgetful one. She walked up to his ear and began to whisper.

“Hello.”

“Oh, hi mysterious voice.”

Celestia suppressed her laughter as she continued on.

“What is your name?” she asked.

“Oh, my name is Arlon the Forgetful.”

Celestia facehoofed.

“How original.”

“Ok… and what are your friends’ names.”

“… I’m sorry, I forgot.”

“What are you blabbering on about now?” The short one turned his head and shouted.

“Nothing, I’m just talking to my new friend.”

“Uh-oh.”

The short one lowered his arms and turned completely around.

“Oh, and who’s that?”

Forgetful turned around and looked in Celestia’s direction and began to squint.

“Uh, I don’t know.”

“Maybe it’s your imagination.” The tall one also placed down his arms and began to walk towards Forgetful. Forgetful shrugged.

“I suppose.”

“Well, let’s get out of here, before we are spotted.” The short one called out.

“Yes, let’s leave.” The tall one added on.

The tall one suddenly reached for his back and pulled out a staff with a point on it. He touched the ground, and soon all the humans were consumed in light. They disappeared within a matter of seconds, leaving behind nothing. Celestia’s horn began to glow as she suppressed the muffling and the invisibility spell. Once she finished she walked towards the hole, or where it was.

“Huh, they covered up the hole… and covered it up in trees.” Celestia stopped at the tree line, for she noticed something at her hooves.”

“What’s this?” Celestia leaned down and noticed that it was a staff.

“The short one must have dropped it.” Celestia picked it up with her magic and examined it.

“Hello, what is this?”

Celestia noticed that there was something on it, or rather growing off of it. She picked it off and placed the staff down. She then examined the item.

“It looks like a pomegranate.” She told herself aloud. Suddenly the sound of sizzling filled her ears. She glanced down and noticed that the staff was gone. In its place were miniature trees.

She glanced back up to the fruit.

“I wonder…”

“So that’s where you found the fruit.” Pinkie noted.

“Yes Pinkie Pie that is where I found the fruit. I told Princess Luna about this discovery as soon as I got back to the castle that night. I also planted the fruit the next day. It grew in a matter of seconds, and produced more fruits very quickly.”

“Well, how do the fruits taste?” Pinkie asked.

Princess Celestia chuckled.

“They tasted wonderful, but I also wanted to try something else that I thought about them.” Celestia turned to Luna. “Luna, if you will.”

Luna smiled at Celestia, and then looked at the ponies.

“We decided to try something with two mice. Something that is a secret… guards, please leave the garden!” Luna shouted to the guards.

The guards bowed, and then filed out of the garden.

Once she noticed that the guards were out, Luna turned back to the ponies.

“Well, as I was saying, we took a few fruits and juiced them. We then found two mice, one unfortunately dead and the other dying.”

Luna took the fruit from Celestia’s magical grasp and levitated it in front of the ponies. Twilight took it in her magical grasp.

“We decided to feed the liquid to the dying mouse, and you wouldn’t believe our results.” Luna turned around and used her magic to pull a tile off the floor and glanced into the floor. Her horn began to glow again as she pulled two items from the floor. The items were a small container filled with red liquid and a large glass box. She placed them on the floor.

“The mouse ended up being rejuvenated by the juice! It was amazing! We decided to try it on the mouse that was dead. The results were not the same, however. Look at the results.”

She opened the glass box and levitated it to the ponies. Fluttershy was the first to speak up.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“We don’t know.” Luna replied. “The juice revived it, but for some reason it wasn’t responsive and its eyes were clouded.” She closed up the box and put it to the side.

“I have an idea, but I’m afraid this might happen again.”

Twilight suddenly smiled.

“You want to try and revive Charlie with this liquid, huh!”

“Yes Twilight Sparkle.”

“Well, what are we waiting for, let’s try it!” Twilight shouted eagerly.

Luna glanced over to her sister, who nodded. She then levitated the small container and walked over to the coffin.

“Let us see if this works…”

She opened the container and began to spill it on Charlie’s body.  Nothing happened after a few seconds, leaving Twilight saddened.

“Uh…” Twilight’s ears perked up.

“Ch-Charlie!?”

Twilight watched as Charlie slowly got up with his hair covering his face. A few seconds passed, Charlie still in his leaning stance.

“Charlie?” She called out scared.

No response came from Charlie. Princess Luna shook her head.

“I was afraid this would happen…”

“What?” Applejack asked curiously.

“This.”

Luna used her magic to lift Charlie’s head, revealing Charlie’s eyes.

“Oh my…” Rarity covered her mouth. Charlie had a blank stare and all the color was drained from his face and eyes.

“What’s wrong with him?” Applejack frantically asked.

Princess Luna glanced over to her sister, and then looked back at the ponies.

“We don’t know, but what we do know is…”

*Rustle*

Everypony glanced over in the direction of the noise. A bush that wasn’t there before was right next to the pomegranate vine.

“He’s here.” Celestia whispered.

“Who’s…?” Twilight was cut off by Luna’s hoof.

“Shhh…” Luna silenced Twilight.

Celestia slowly approached the bush, which didn’t move. Once she got close enough she shot a beam of energy at the bush. It didn’t hit it, however. It formed a barrier around the bush and the vine.

“Go ahead, human!” Celestia shouted.

There was no immediate response from anything, leaving Twilight confused.

“What’s going on?” Twilight asked.

“That.” Celestia pointed at the bush, which suddenly began moving. Green clothing began to morph from the leaves, and suddenly a human leaned up from its fetal position as the bush.

“Damn.” A voice called out. Celestia smiled, then shot another beam at the barrier. The human, who was wearing some sort of wooden guise, glanced at Celestia.

“What was that for?” He questioned in a calm voice.

“Is that…”

“Yes it is… the human I saw.” Twilight was cut off by Celestia, who already knew what she was going to say.

“Human, why doesn’t this water of life work?” Celestia called out.

The human suddenly began laughing.

“Silly pony, it is so obvious.”

Celestia’s facial expression didn’t change while she listened to the human.

“He doesn’t have a soul, ha-ha!”

“Is that it?” Celestia asked.

“Yes it is.” The human stopped laughing and answered straightly.

“Can you bring back his soul?” Celestia asked.

The human shook his head.

“No, that is not in my power.”

“What is your name, human?”

Although he was wearing a mask, his face was partially visible, for parts of his face were exposed.

“Arlon of Life, your majesty.”

“How do you know that?” Twilight asked curiously.

“I know a lot of things, young one?”

“Take off your mask, Life.”  Celestia said calmly.

“What, why?”

“Because, I need to see your face.

Life sighed, then leaned down and removed his mask. He looked up.

“Oh my.”

Twilight looked at Celestia.

“What, what’s wrong?” Twilight asked, concerned.

“He looks exactly like Forgetful… why do you have the same name as Forgetful?” Celestia asked.

Life chuckled.

“He’s my brother.”

“That explains a lot, but I have one last question for you.”

Life looked up at Celestia.

“I suppose you can ask another question.”

“Who are you to give permission to the Princess!?” Rainbow suddenly shouted angrily.

Life simply smiled.

“I am Life, little one.”

“You should be talking; I’m almost as tall as you!” Rainbow kept on the offensive.

Life frowned.

“I have nothing to say.”

“You’re not even powerful enough to bring back Charlie!”

“Shut it, little pony!”

“Oh, then how can we bring him back, then?” Rainbow suddenly asked calmly.

“You need the Veil of Death to bring him back!”

“Oh and how do we get the ‘veil of death’?” Rainbow jumped into the air and crossed her hooves.

“You need to summon Death, and in order to do that, you need to present him with a soul of a human!” Life realized what he did, then turned around and face palmed.

“Goodness!” He also shook his head.

“Good, now we have the solution.” Rainbow Dash landed. Once she did she was given a hoof bump by Applejack.

“Nice work Rainbow!” Twilight complemented Rainbow.

“But who’s soul do we use?” Fluttershy asked.

“I think we should use his soul!” Rainbow pointed at Life. Life, however, shook his head.

“No, I don’t think you should do that.”

“Oh, and why not?” Rainbow asked crossly.

“First off, I don’t want to die, and second off, if you kill me then Death will be the least of your worries.”

“I highly doubt that.” Twilight shook her head.

“Why don’t you use the soul of Dmitri, huh?” Twilight’s eyes widened.

“How do you know about…”

“I told you, young one, I know a lot of things.”

Twilight turned around to face the ponies behind her.

“Well girls, what do you think?”

“I think he’s right,” Rainbow said. “Dmitri is just sitting around anyways, and besides, he ponynapped me.”

“I agree, he’s not exactly a good human.” All the ponies glanced over to Princess Celestia, who was the one who spoke up. Princess Celestia then glanced at her sister, who simply nodded in agreement.

“I shall go get him.” Princess Luna walked to and out of the door.

Dmitri lay in his cell in the dungeon for crimes against a pony.

“Ponies are so weak, and very deceptive.”

Suddenly a door opened up. Dmitri got up from his cot and walked to the iron bars. He watched as a dark blue pony walked into the large room outside of the holding cell. As soon as the door opened the guard on watch bowed.

“Oh look who it is, it’s Princess Woona!” Another inmate shouted.

“Silence criminal!”

Princess Woona walked towards Dmitri’s cell. Dmitri chuckled.

“What an honor Princess Woona.”

Princess Woona frowned.

“It’s Princess Luna, human.”

Dmitri frowned.

“My apologies, your majesty.”

“It is alright human… guard!” The guard ran up to Princess Luna.

“Please release this human.”

The guard looked at Princess Luna surprised.

“Why your majesty?”

“He is under my jurisdiction now.” Princess Luna said. The guard simply nodded and opened the cage.

“Vhy are you releasing me, your majesty?” Dmitri crossed his arms.

“We need you for something, human.”

“Oh, and vhat is zhat?” Dmitri asked skeptically.

“Something very important.”

Princess Luna led Dmitri to the door of the garden, where four guards were stationed. The guards watched with a careful eye as the notorious human walked behind their princess.

“Guards, open the door please.” Luna said in a calm voice.

One of the guards nodded, then opened the door.

Princess Luna walked into the garden, with Dmitri following.

“Wow, zhis certainly is a nice place… vhy do you bring me here?” Luna didn’t answer as they walked towards the ponies and the coffin.

Rainbow Dash gave Dmitri a scornful look as he walked up to the coffin. He looked left and right, then slightly opened the coffin and glanced inside.

“Prince Charles, what happened to you?” He closed the coffin.

“He was killed by your leader Heinrich.” Twilight sadly said.

Dmitri glanced back at Twilight, who was glaring at him with glazed eyes.

“I am so sorry ma’am, he was your friend wasn’t he?” Dmitri asked.

“Yes.

Dmitri placed a hand on his chin and thought.

“Dmitri, you must get out of here, they are planning on stealing your soul!” A voice suddenly shouted. Dmitri glanced to his right and saw another human.

“What?” Dmitri noticed that the human was staring into his eyes.

“They are planning on taking your soul!”

“Telepathy, huh.”

“Who are you talking to?” Dmitri turned around and noticed that everypony was staring at him. Dmitri cleared his throat, then glanced at Twilight.

“Ma’am, zhis other human is telling me that you plan on taking my soul, is zhat true?”

Life face palmed

Twilight sighed, then glanced up at Dmitri.

“Yes, it is the only way to bring Charlie back.”

“Is zhat vhat you call him… fine.”

"What!” Everypony save the Princesses shouted in unison.

“Yes, I vill let you use my soul to bring back Charlie.”

“Why?” Rainbow asked, astonished.

“Because, it is about time that I go home, and besides, I vant to see my son Nikolai again. All I can hope is that he forgives me.”

“Son?!” Twilight said, surprised.

“Yes, he is my son, I vanted to gain immortality to bring him back, but now I see zhat is impossible.”

Twilight glanced at Celestia, who looked at her back, then nodded.

“Alright Dmitri, I promise that this won’t hurt.” Celestia assured Dmitri, yet he waved it off.

“Go ahead, I do not care.”

Celestia nodded, then walked up to Dmitri. She placed her horn on Dmitri’s head. Her horn began to glow, then it flashed. She lifted it up slowly, pulling a white ball out of Dmitri’s head. Dmitri’s eyes rolled back and he collapsed on the floor. Celestia then curved her head down and placed the white ball on the floor.

“So that…”

“Yes, that is his soul.” Celestia finished for Twilight.

“Wow, I’ve never seen a soul before!” Pinkie shouted excitedly.

“Well now you have, and you’re definitely in for it now!” Life suddenly got up and shook his head.

“In for what?” Pinkie asked curiously.

“That.”

Life pointed behind Pinkie, where light was coming out of the ground. Suddenly there was a pop and a small leafless bush appeared.

“That was neat, do it again!” Pinkie turned back to Life and shouted. He merely shook his head, and pointed back behind Pinkie.

“What are you pointing at, the… oh.” Pinkie turned around and saw what he was pointing at.

Rainbow Dash turned around right at the same time and saw what Life was pointing at. Fear filled her heart as she stared at the figure of her nightmares.

“You…” She uttered.

It said nothing as it pulled out a staff from its back. It turned out not to be a staff, rather it was more of a…

“Scythe…”

“RaInbow Dash look out!!!”

Twilight watched as the cloaked figure taller than Celestia pulled out a scythe. It lifted it up slowly. Immediately Twilight knew what was going to happen.

“Rainbow Dash look out!!!”

Twilight reacted quickly as she used her magic to push a fear-struck Rainbow out of the way. It worked, but soon the figure turned his head towards Twilight. It raised a covered hand and closed it to a fist. Twilight suddenly felt something grab her legs. She looked down and saw two bone jaws grab at her hooves.

“What!”

“Now…” He said in a familiar voice. “You will die.”

He raised his scythe, but something came up from behind him. He turned, but it was too late.

Ding!

He fell to the floor, unconscious. Behind him was a familiar face.

“Princess!”

Princess Celestia placed down the pot, which dissolved into thin air.

“Well that was anti-climactic.”

Everypony turned to the Pinkie, the source of the voice.

“What?” Pinkie asked before she jumped over to Life, who was wide-mouthed.

“What’s wrong?”  Pinkie asked Life, who closed his jaw and shook his head rapidly.

“That…. that’s not supposed to happen!” He shouted with both arms pointing towards the fallen human.

“Oh, and why not?” Rainbow asked while suppressing laughter.

“The only one to successfully knock out Death was… was…. you know what, never mind.” He waved it off, turned around and sat.

Twilight smiled, then walked over to Death. He was very tall, so she used her magic to turn him around.

As soon as she turned him around she found what she was looking for.

“The Veil of Death!” The veil began to glow with purple magic. She soon pulled it off, but as soon as she did she gasped.

“What, what’s wrong!?” Rainbow asked worried.

“He looks like him!” She pointed with a hoof to Life.

“Huh.” Rainbow turned to Life, then walked over to Death.

“He does… explain yourself ‘Life’!”

“He’s my brother…” Life answered without turning his head.

“O.K, well, what are you waiting for, Twilight, use that…”

“Uh…” Everypony turned towards Death, who was rubbing his head.

“What happened?” He asked.

“Nothing, just go back to sleep.” Rainbow rubbed her two front hooves together.

He suddenly stopped rubbing his head, then felt his face.

“Where’s my veil?!” He asked frantically. He looked around, then saw Twilight.

“Why do you have my veil?” He asked, anger filling his voice. He broke into an unusual smile, then reached out to the side.

“You will give me back my veil, or else!”

“Or else, what?” Rainbow Dash hesitated.

“You will die!” The scythe reappeared in his hands, then he assumed an aggressive stance.

“Yeah, you show them!” Life suddenly shouted. Everypony turned to Life, who was standing up, facing them.

“You’re in for it now!” Life smiled wickedly.

“Hey, that’s what you said earlier!” Pinkie complained.

“Well, I really mean it this time.” Life crossed his arms.

“Eh-hem!” Everypony turned back to Death, who smiled once more, then jumped. He aimed for Twilight. Twilight reacted and jumped out of the way, Death landing where she was standing.

“Yeah, way to go Twi’!” Rainbow raised a hoof and cheered. Death turned his head and growled at Rainbow Dash.

“Ehehe…” Rainbow falsely laughed. “I didn’t say anything…”

“Hurry my little ponies, behind me!” Princess Celestia suddenly shouted. Everypony took off towards the princess while she shot up a beam of magic. Twilight was about to reach the safety of the shield, but a voice called out from behind her.

“Ah-ah-ah, you can’t leave.”

Suddenly two pony skeletons appeared in front of the group.

“Twilight!” Fluttershy called out.

Twilight stopped her running. She looked at the veil, then an idea came up in her mind.

“Aha!” The veil suddenly disappeared, teleported somewhere else.

“What!” Death suddenly shouted.

“Oh, now you’ve done it!” Celestia and the group, who were right next to Life, turned to him.

“What, what did she do?” Pinkie asked.

“You never take the Veil of Death, and now that she hid it, it will agitate him even more!”

The group turned back to Death and Twilight, who were still facing each other. Death, however, suddenly began to twitch. The two skeletons of the ponies also broke down, right in front of the group.

Twilight looked at Death with interest as his body violently twitched. He looked down. He stayed like that for a few seconds, but soon he glanced back up. Twilight nearly vomited as she noticed that his eyes slowly fell out of his eye sockets. His skin also began to wrinkle up.

“Where did you place my Veil!?” He shouted in a different voice.

“I… I can’t tell you.” Twilight said in slight fear.

“So be it…” He said before he raised his scythe.  He begun a fast walk towards Twilight.

Twilight took a battle stance, then thought of her options.

“What can I do? I face an unknown opponent…” She looked down.

“Too late!” A voice unexpectedly shouted out from behind her. She gasped.

“Oh no!” Her horn began to glow, and she immediately turned and shot a beam. It impacted right in the middle of his chest and shot out of the other side.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief when she noticed that he stopped his attack.

“Foolish pony, do you know what you have done!”

Twilight turned her head towards Life, who was smiling.

“Well, I think she defeated him.” Fluttershy smiled.

“No! That only will agitate him even more. You might have hit his heart, but now you must face the aftereffect.”

Everypony turned towards Death, who had changed his position and now had his head facing down.

“You…” Death simply said in a dry voice before he looked up. Twilight looked on in horror when she saw his face, which looked like a human skeletal face. He raised his scythe, but didn’t move.

“What…”

“Twilight, behind you!” Twilight turned and saw Death standing there, in the same stance. Her horn lit up and she shot a concussive blast at him. It sent Death sprawling, but without shattering his bones.

“Twilight, behind you…again!” Twilight turned her head quickly and noticed the Death that was standing there earlier was walking up to her. The same idea came to Twilight’s mind as her horn lit up once more. Once he got close enough, she shot another concussion blast at Death, sending him flying.

“Enough…. of this!” A dry voice called out. Twilight turned, but it was too late. Death slapped Twilight, sending her sliding across the floor. Twilight felt a stinging sensation across her lower body when she finally stopped sliding.

“Twilight, look up!” Twilight looked up slowly, and noticed Death up in the air.

“Now, you… will die…” Death’s voice rang out from above her. Twilight watched as Death fell closer towards her, scythe raised. Twilight closed her eyes, and accepted the incoming doom.

“Twilight…”

Twilight slowly opened her eyes and looked up and saw Rainbow Dash.

“Huh, what happened?”

Rainbow let out a chuckle, then pointed with a hoof up into the sky.

“That.”

Twilight looked at Death in the sky. He appeared to have frozen in midair. She glanced at the Princesses, who shook their heads.

“Who did this?”

“Ты ослушался приказа.”

“I didn’t disobey the order, honestly!” Everypony glanced over towards Life, where someone short was standing over him.

“Я так не думаю. “

He lifted his hand, and Life suddenly disappeared. He lifted his other hand where Death was. Twilight looked up and Death was gone too.

“Who are you?”  Twilight asked, intrigued.

He turned around, and immediately Twilight recognized him.

“Ni…mph.” He suddenly appeared in front of Twilight and covered her mouth.

“Ah-ah, don’t say it.”

The mysterious figure removed his hand and walked back.

“Now, I think it should be easier if I get into more… suitable clothes.”

Light engulfed him, and after a few seconds a much taller silhouette appeared in the light. He walked out of the light, and as soon as he did everypony recognized his looks.

“Whoa whoa whoa, wait a second!” Rainbow shouted. “You look exactly like…”

He smiled.

“Yes, I look like the other three, but that’s because they my brothers.” He replied.

“Well then, what is your name, human?” Princess Celestia moved up and asked.

He moved a hand to his heart.

“I… am the powerful Arlon the Wizard!”

Twilight shook her head.

“Ugh… anyways.”

“What are you doing here?” Celestia once again spoke up.

The Wizard chuckled.

“I am here because Life was out of line. His intention was to kill you ponies.”

“What?!” Rainbow yelled.

“Yes, and because of such I had to intervene. Well… it didn’t help that you took off Death’s veil, either.” The Wizard shook his head.

“Well, we had no other choice. We had to take the veil to bring Charlie back!” Rainbow pointed a hoof behind her, where Charlie was still sitting up.

“Ah yes, Charlie… I will allow this.” He turned around and began to walk.

Twilight’s ears twitched.

“What?”

“Yes, I will allow Charlie to return.” He said without turning around.

“Um, thanks?” Rainbow questioned.

“No problem.”

“Wait, where are you going?!” Twilight lifted a hoof and shouted.

He stopped, then turned around.

“It is time for me to return to my duties, ta-ta.”

Suddenly light engulfed the area. In almost an instant it disappeared. Arlon the Wizard was gone.

”Charlie…” A familiar voice called out.

Charlie turned his head. Light soon appeared from in front of his eyelids.

“Uh, one more minute, Henry.”

“Henry? Who’s that?”

Wait a second, that’s not Henry, it sounds like Rainbow Dash.

Charlie slowly opened his eyes, and saw two eyes staring into his.

“Welcome back… Charlie!”