What if....

Twilight stood completely dumbstruck as she stared at the heart that was beating on the page of the book. Twilight’s wide mouthed expression caught Charlie’s attention.

“Twilight, please don’t look at it for too long. It’s actually quite mesmerizing.”

“No, you don’t understand. I saw this book in a dream, a dream that I had just last night.”  Twilight waved the book around for emphasis. “It had the exact same writing on the first page and the heart on the second page.” She opened the book to the second page. “By the way I still wonder.” She lifted a hoof and slowly moved it towards the heart. She touched it and immediately retracted it. “Eww… you gotta be kidding me, it feels the same too!” She closed the book and shoved it in Charlie’s chest with her magic.

“It’s impossible… but more importantly what it is.” Twilight’s surprised demeanor immediately changed into one of curiosity.

Charlie stared at Twilight in confusion. “It’s a spell; it’s one that I haven’t been able to break yet.”

Twilight’s ears perked up when she heard this. “Wait, a spell! What kind of spell? Who cast it?” Twilight asked in glee.

“Well,” Charlie began. “It is a protection spell and my…”

“Wait a protection spell! That sounds a lot like the book Star Swirl the Bearded found, but that’s impossible since that was over one thousand years ago.” Twilight looked down, pondering on the situation.

“Well, it may not be entirely impossible…” he broke her concentration. “I was around for one thousand years, and maybe longer...”

Twilight slowly looked up Charlie with a skeptical look. “Wait; are you saying your immortal?”

Charlie looked up towards the ceiling. “Well I do believe so.”

Twilight eyed him. “How? Are all humans immortal?”

Charlie looked back down to Twilight. “No, I was just helped by…” He choked up. Twilight watched a few tears roll down his cheeks before she intervened.

“It’s alright; you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

Charlie shook his head to wear off the crying. “No, its ok, but I won’t tell you until tomorrow. Right now you have to get some rest.”

Charlie walked over to Twilight and lifted her up. She gasped as he carried her to the bed and set her down.

“Just rest Twilight; I will wake you in the morning.” Charlie got the sheets from the floor and covered Twilight. Within seconds after she closed her eyes she fell asleep.

Charlie smiled. “Poor thing was tired this whole time. She definitely needed her rest.” He then left her and walked over to a door on the opposite side of the bed. He opened it and immediately he was struck by a blue light. He stood in the doorway for a minute while his eyes adjusted to the light, and then walked in. The room was bathed in a fading blue light that emanated from a blue crystal in the middle of the room. Well sort of, as there was a hole in the middle of the room, and it cut into the floor and the ceiling. The blue crystal was located next to the hole. Charlie walked over to the blue crystal and observed it.

“I wonder how much longer this will last. My mentor told me that he powered it when he left the Great City and during The Purge, but even I don’t know when it will wear off.”

A figure walked out of the shadows as Charlie spoke to himself and put a covered hand on his back.

“Charles, you know that this” he motioned with his spare hand the crystal. “isn’t a gauge of the power left in the crystal in the bottom. That’s where the real power is located.”

Charlie ignored the stranger’s statement and turned his head to face him. “You, why did you scare her like that. You almost caused her death, and that’s the last thing anypony wants.”

The stranger took off his hood to reveal… another Charlie! The only difference was that this Charlie had a strange shade of yellow eyes. “Aw, come on Charles. Can’t I have at least a little fun?”

“No! You can’t hurt anypony like that, it’s not nice.”

The other Charlie scoffed. “Bah, like anyone cares.”

“I care, so please, don’t do that again.” Charlie turned to face the crystal again.

“Fine!” the other Charlie left into the room.

“Yellow eyed demon.”

Twilight Sparkle awoke feeling well rested albeit sore. She pushed off the covers and got up. She got off the bed slowly and looked at her surroundings. She was in a building of sorts, as the floor, walls and ceiling was composed of stone bricks. The lamp from last night was on the floor on top of a rug and there was a dresser opposite of the bed. There was also a chair in a corner with a lump of clothing on it, but what appeared to be windows caught her attention. Twilight walked over to a window and examined it. There was a little bit of darkened dirt on the floor under it. She eyed the boards of wood and thought up an idea. She horn glowed as she enacted her idea. The board of wood glowed as well and the nails above and below it began to fall off. After a few seconds she pulled the board off, closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, expecting fresh air. Instead she got the smell of damp earth. She opened her eyes in confusion and saw that the outside was made of dirt.

“What the hay!”

“We’re underground, my little pony,” Twilight heard a male voice spit out behind her. She turned around and saw that the pile of clothing was actually something else.

“Good morning Charlie.”

Charlie smiled, “good morning pony.”

Twilight looked at Charlie suspiciously, for he didn’t sound the same.

“Charlie?”

Charlie still kept smiling. “Right you are pony.”

Twilight was unnerved by his constant smiling, but a knock at the door caught her attention.

“Come in!” Charlie said happily. Twilight watched as... another Charlie walked in.

“You!” She yelled. Her horn began to glow brightly as she prepared an offensive spell.

“Twilight, wrong person!” The other Charlie shouted but it was too late. She shot him with the magic blast and he hit the wall and fell.

The first Charlie pointed at the downed Charlie and laughed heartily. Twilight dropped her attack position and stared at the laughing Charlie.

“Why are you laughing Charlie? I just took down your evil side.” Charlie, who was still laughing, looked down at Twilight. He took a deep breath to calm himself down and peered into Twilight’s eyes.

“You really don’t know do you?” When Twilight shook her head he continued.

“I’ll give you one hint pony… ahem, boo!” When he finished he began laughing once more. Twilight, embarrassed that this Charlie just made a fool of her, began to charge up her horn again. Charlie noticed and immediately he stopped laughing. He took on an angry demeanor and glared at Twilight.

“Don’t try it unicorn.”

“I agree with him, I wouldn’t try it.” Twilight turned around to the source of the voice and found that the Charlie she hit was getting up.

“But why not?” Twilight questioned.

“Because it won’t work… you,” Charlie pointed at the Charlie sitting down. “enough.”

“Alright,” Twilight said in defeat. “but with this out of the way, how am I going to distinguish you from each other.”

“Hmm, I don’t know, do you have any ideas?” Charlie asked the Charlie who was sitting down.

“Just call me Heinrich.”

Charlie looked at Heinrich suspiciously.

“Why?”

“Well you were the ones who wanted a separate name, and besides, I always liked that name.” Heinrich answered.

Twilight observed Charlie was watching Heinrich, who was smiling to himself.

“What have I gotten myself into?”

Heinrich glared at Twilight. “Well I don’t know pony, what have you gotten yourself into. If you hadn’t fallen of that cliff none of this would’ve happened. “

Twilight felt anger build up in her. “Well I wouldn’t have fallen off if you hadn’t scared me!”

“Well boo hoo. You ponies are so weak.”

Charlie watched the two go off at each other, but he wasn’t amused.  He face palmed before stopping them.

“Alright guys that’s enough. No need to argue anymore.”

“What he started it!” Twilight pointed at Heinrich, who kept glaring at her.

“Shut up pony.”

“I said enough!” Charlie raised his voice, which ended up stopping them.

“Alright, Twilight, you can follow me if you want. Heinrich, go do something else.”

Heinrich whispered a few obscenities under his breath, but he got up willingly from his chair. Twilight and Charlie observed him as he opened a hatch to the right of the bed and left.

“Ugh, what a mean guy.” Twilight told Charlie.

“Yeah, he isn’t exactly a saint.”

Twilight kept looking at the hatch, which had her curiosity.

“Where did he go?” she asked.

Charlie kept his attention on the door as he answered.

“Oh, he went to the lower area of the tower.”

“Wait, what tower?”

Charlie turned to face Twilight. “You’re in it Twilight.”

“How, I mean Heinrich said we’re underground. How can a tower be underground, it’s improbable.”  Twilight looked around in disbelief.

“This tower is barely underground, Twilight. The top sticks out of the ground, so the weight of the dirt isn’t a problem, but if that was a problem, this tower is protected by a protection spell, but I noticed that it’s fading.”

“Well, who cast it?”

Charlie sighed, and then continued. “My mentor did very long ago during The Purge. He used a powerful spell to protect this tower and… me. Here, I think it’s time that I tell you about my history.” Charlie opened the door behind him and once again was showered by a blue light. Twilight walked up to him, awed by the sight in front of her.  In the room in front of her was a variety of things both big and small which had her attention. On one wall there was a large tapestry of a human wearing and a crown. On another wall was a sword, well polished, but what caught most of her attention was in the middle. A hole was cut into the floor and the ceiling, but the object glowing next to the hole on the floor had her attention.

“That is a crystal, young one. One that I have been powering for a very long time.”

Twilight looked up at Charlie. “What did you just say?”

Charlie put both his hands together and twiddled his thumbs. “It’s what my mentor told me.”

“Oh.” Twilight once again focused her attention on the crystal.

“He told me that it’s actually a power crystal, one that amplifies magic, but…”

“Wait, humans know magic?” Twilight asked with curiosity in her voice.

“Yes, but only those who are born with it, but…”

“Do you know magic?” Twilight interrupted.

“Yes but…”

“Can you show me…”

“Twilight.”

“Yes.” Twilight answered casually.

“Please let me continue.”  Charlie asked with as much politeness as he could muster.

“Alright, go ahead.” Twilight watched as Charlie walked into the bedroom and pulled out the chair. He took the cushion and gave it to Twilight. He then took a seat on the chair.

“Alright, just so you know, human is significantly weaker than pony magic. I noticed that when I experienced your magic from afar and first hand.” Twilight blushed, but then she thought of Charlie’s words.

“Wait, from afar, were you spying on me.”

“Don’t worry Twilight, I don’t just spy on you, I spy on everypony… I think I can tell you about my history now.”

“Yes, please tell me.”

Charlie reached in his pocket and pulled out the brown book and opened it to the third page. He cleared his throat and began.

“Well, I was born into a world at war. The five great kingdoms were at war.”

“Wait war, why?” Twilight asked.

“Humanity is capable of so much hatred; I mean the human heart itself is susceptible to corruption and greed. That’s what started the war in the first place. Well, I don’t know their names, so I always called them in whatever direction they were in. There was the Northern Kingdom, the Western Kingdom, the Eastern Kingdom, the Southern Kingdom, and the Middle Kingdom.  There were uneasy alliances between the kingdoms. Basically, it was the North and Middle Kingdoms, the East and the West, the South was alone.” Charlie closed the book and stared at Twilight, who was staring at Charlie expectantly.

A minute passed before Twilight broke the silence.

“What, that’s it. You gotta be kidding me; Star Swirl the Bearded had more information in his book than yours.”

“Yes, that’s it until I can break the protection spell.” Charlie placed a hand on his chin. “Can I ask you a question Twilight?”

Twilight sighed discontented. “Yes, go ahead.”

“You mentioned Star Swirl the Bearded multiple times, who’s that?”

Twilight let out a small chuckle. “Oh, he’s the most important conjurer of the pre-classical era. Wait, are you saying that he found the book and broke the spell.”

Charlie smiled. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

“Well, like you said it is possible, but what’s in the book?” Twilight asked.

“My memories, except you don’t have to read them, you can see them.” Charlie said with extra emphasis in the last part.

“Wait, how do you know?”

“My mentor showed me some of his once. It was like I was there myself.” Charlie said while he looked up dreamily. He gave Twilight his attention after a few seconds. “I could tell you the memories, but it isn’t nearly as awesome as showing you them, but if you really want to know, then I’ll tell you.”

Twilight thought about it for a second, then told Charlie her decision.

“I think I can wait until you break it, or better yet until I break it!”

“I’ll break it when I get back to the library!” Twilight said in delight.  “Hey Charlie, can we leave now?”

Charlie shook his head. “It isn’t a good idea for me to leave during the morning or the day. Don’t worry; we’ll leave tomorrow when you have more strength.”

“Can’t we just leave tonight?” Twilight complained.

“No Twilight, it’s a while from Ponyville in your condition, sorry.”

Twilight scanned the area. “Well, where are we?”

“We’re in the hilly region north of Ponyville. I wouldn’t recommend you walk around in your immediate condition, you need more strength.”

Twilight groaned. “Fine, do you at least have a few books I can read.”

Charlie motioned to the large tapestry. “Yeah, just behind that.”  Twilight walked up to the tapestry and studied it. It was a bearded human wearing a cloak and a crown. He was also holding a sword down with both hands.

“Charlie, who is this?” Charlie heard Twilight’s question and walked up next to her.

“That is Emperor John the Magnificent. He is the father of our previous King William and Prince Richard. He is also the brother of my mentor. You wanna know a legend of the royal family Twilight?”

Twilight nodded. “Sure, I don’t mind hearing a legend.”

“Alright,” Charlie started. “Legend has it that the Royal Family is immortal, it was granted to them when they took over the Great City. I always believed it because my mentor was around since Emperor John’s time, which was one hundred and ninety years before my birth. Plus my mentor took a crystal from the Great City.”

“What’s the Great City? You mentioned it a few times.”  Twilight asked.

“I think it would be better if I showed you it. Alright Twilight, go ahead and take a look at the books. I have to attend to something downstairs.”

Twilight moved the tapestry and saw a whole variety of books on a few bookshelves.

She narrowed her eyes as she glanced around.

“Charlie, were these stolen!”

“.......yup.”

10 hours earlier. 12:00 A.M Midnight

“Wow, that certainly is a big party planned, you sure you can do it all?” Spike asked in awe.

“Well Spike, with your part, which is no doubt the most important part, done, and with the preparations for tomorrow all set up, Twilight’s birthday party couldn’t come sooner. Just remember the plan, don’t let Twilight anywhere near town hall.” Rarity told Spike, who was walking next to her. They were on their way to drop off Spike at the library. The library soon came into view, so Spike ran over to the library door and opened it. He switched on the light and ran up to the stairs with Rarity, albeit slower, following suit. He stopped running and walked up the stairs. He arrived at the top and opened the door. The moonlight shown through the window, illuminating his path, so Spike walked up the stairs and up to the living quarters. He looked at Twilight’s bed, but was surprised when he saw that it was empty.

“Hey Rarity,” he called.

“Yes dear”

“Twilight’s not here.”

Rarity blinked twice, and then asked a question.

“What do you mean dear?”

“I mean she’s not in bed. Do you think she went to the slumber party while we were on our way?”

Rarity thought over it, then answered.

“I think we would have seen her on the way.”

Spike walked down the stairs to Rarity.

“Maybe, but can we check anyways… please?” Spike asked worriedly.

Rarity didn’t have a second thought as she came up with her answer, as she was a little worried herself. “Alright, let’s go.”

Spike and Rarity walked out of the library. Spike closed the door before following Rarity to Fluttershy’s cottage.

“Where do you think she went?” Spike asked.

“I don’t know dear. Maybe she went to somepony else’s house.”

“I don’t think so.” Spike retorted. The rest of the walk was in silence before they arrived at Fluttershy’s door. Rarity opened the door and greeted everypony, with Spike doing the same.

“Has anypony seen Twilight, she wasn’t at the library.” Everypony in the room shook their heads.

“Twilight hasn’t come by here,” Fluttershy responded. “Why, did something bad happen to her?!”

“I hope not.” Spike answered. “Hey, where’s Rainbow Dash?”

“She went to get some fresh air,” Applejack responded. As if on cue, Rainbow entered the cottage from the back door.

“Hey guys you gotta see this.” The five ponies and Spike looked at each other before following Rainbow to the back.

Rainbow led the way to the path to the Everfree Forest and pointed at something on the ground. Spike walked over to whatever it was and picked it up.

“It’s a scroll,” he said before unfurling it and reading it aloud.

“First, review about invisibility before nightfall. Second, visit Zecora and see if she has more of those shoes. Side note, those shoes worked wonderfully last time! Third, spy on the sleepover. Twilight must have wrote these guys.”

“Well, looks like Twilight wanted to spy on us at the sleepover.” Pinkie gasped. “Maybe, she’s spying on us now,” Pinkie said before looking around with narrowed eyes.

Rainbow shook her head. “Nuh-uh, I don’t think so, look.”  She pointed out hoof prints that led into the forest, but not back.

“Twilight went into the forest, at night! That’s very dangerous! “Rarity yelled dramatically.

“Well girls, looks like we’re gonna have to go get her,” Applejack said before stomping a hoof.

Spike raised a closed claw into the air. “Yeah, we’ll find Twilight and bring her back to safety.”

Rainbow flew up into the air and called out to the group. “Hold on, I’ll fly up and see if I can find her. I have no doubt she’s using a spell to light her way.” She flew off before any of them could protest.

Rainbow flew along the tree line at a moderate speed, using the moon and the stars to light her way. She kept flying before something reflective caught her attention. She flew to a clearing where she saw the reflection and flew close to the ground. She found large impressions and hoof prints in the earth and followed them. They lead to a broken branch and eventually to an object. Rainbow landed and picked up the object with her hoof.

“Reflective goggles, I remember Twilight asking me for goggles a few months ago, I wonder if these are hers.” She placed the goggles on her head and looked down on the ground. The hoof prints appeared to change pace, from walking to running. She jumped up and flew low to the ground, following the hoof prints. She followed them to a bend in the path and turned.”It doesn’t look like anything was following her, so I wonder what spooked her.”  Rainbow told herself while she followed the tracks. She followed them, but suddenly stopped when they stopped… right at the edge of a cliff! “I hope she stopped here.” Rainbow’s hopes began to drop when she looked over the cliff. It was at least a one hundred foot drop to the ground, with more trees on the bottom. Something glinted in her eyes when she looked at one particular tree.  Rainbow flew down, keeping her eyes trained on the reflective object in the moonlight. When she arrived at the object, though, her hopes immediately dropped.

“Oh no…”

“What could that pony have been possibly thinking to go into the forest in the middle of the night?” Rarity asked her friends.

“Ah don’t know, but I do hope that Rainbow comes back with Twilight soon.” Applejack responded.

“I hope that she comes back…” Rarity’s ears twitched when she heard a faint sound.

“Guys!”

“Did you hear that?” Rarity asked her friends.

“It sounded like Rainbow.” Fluttershy said.

Pinkie Pie put a hoof over her eyes and squinted towards the forest. “It is Rainbow, come on!” She yelled happily. She ran towards her but stopped when she saw that Twilight was not with Rainbow.

“Guys, we need to get a search party, now!!” Rainbow yelled.

“Why Rainbow, what happened?” Applejack asked with a tinge of fear in her voice.

“This happened!” Rainbow grabbed something from her back and dropped it on the floor.

Pinkie Pie gasped. “Twilight’s saddlebag…”

“I found it in a tree at the bottom of a cliff!”

“Twilight…” Spike uttered worriedly.

“Now is not the time for worrying,” Rainbow stated aloud. She turned to face Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy, do you have a something to send a note with?”

“Yes.”

“Good, I need you to go get it.” Fluttershy left the area and ran into the house.

“Rainbow dear, what are you doing?” Rarity asked.

“We’re going to need all the help we can get.”