Memories

20 years prior to The Battle of Manehatten

Huge purple eyes was all that Charlie could see.

“Welcome back…. Charlie!”

“Help Me!!!!”

Charlie twitched in his position and shoved Twilight off of himself. He then looked around, where he saw other ponies watching him.

“Ponies!? What kind of world am I in?”

He placed his hands on his head then suddenly began to scream.

Soon, however, Light encapsulated him, and he suddenly felt sleepy. He fell to the floor, fast asleep.

“What’s going on?” A guard suddenly opened the door. Rainbow Dash shook her head.

“After all that commotion with the forces of life and death, they only decide to come in right now.”  Rarity said.

Rainbow Dash let out a chuckle.

“Bingo.”

“Oo, where’s Bingo? I haven’t seen him in a long time!” Pinkie shouted. Everypony glanced at Pinkie, who simply shrugged.

“Well, it’s true.”

“What are we going to do about Charlie?” Fluttershy asked.

Twilight thought about it for a minute.

“Ah-ha, the memory spell!” She exclaimed.

“That’s a perfect idea Twilight!” Applejack complemented her.

“Alright,” she walked up to Charlie and thought of the spell.

“Here it goes.” She lowered her horn, which began to glow, and placed it on Charlie’s forehead.

“Ugh…”

Charlie opened his eyes, and was met by a familiar face.

“Welcome back, Charlie!”

“Twilight?”

Charlie placed a hand on his forehead.

“Uh, what happened?”

“You died!” Pinkie suddenly exclaimed.

“What!”

“Indeed, you did pass away, but by the brave efforts of this pony here,” Princess Celestia walked up to Twilight and placed a wing on her back.

“My most faithful student Twilight Sparkle, now you are here, back to us.”

Charlie watched as each of her friends and Princess Luna walked up to back up Twilight.

“I… I don’t know what to say…” Charlie stuttered.

“I, I’m forever in you debt Twilight Sparkle.” Charlie got up from his laying position in… a coffin… and then jumped out.

“Well, that explains why I seemed taller than you, princess.” He looked back at the coffin, his coffin.

“Anyways, like I said earlier, I am forever in your debt, Twilight Sparkle. One day, I will pay you back.” Charlie then bowed to Twilight.

“By the way, what happened?” Charlie asked.

“Twilight battled the evil forces of life and death to bring you back!” Pinkie cried. “She nearly lost, were it not for some random guy, who stopped the battle and let us bring you back!”

“Wow…”

“Yeah, exactly what I thought of it as well.” Rainbow added on.

“So then it’s true, then, the forces of Life and Death, and how they gave the royal family immortality.”

“Huh?” Princess Luna raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, not your royal family, I’m talking about my royal family.”

“Oh, and we have a gift for you too.” Princess Celestia said before she turned around and walked towards the door.

“I’ll be right back.”

“Where is she going?” Fluttershy turned to Princess Luna.

“While you and your friends were gone to the island, Princess Celestia and I had made something for Charlie. I think he will like it.”

“Oh, what is it?” Charlie asked.

“You’ll see.”

A few minutes passed before the door opened up. Princess Celestia came in, with something floating behind her.

“This, this is something my little sister and I made for you Charlie.” Princess Celestia levitated the item towards Charlie, who took it in his grasp.

“Wow! It’s a new outfit!” He examined it with a giddy smile.

“You guys are the greatest!”

He walked over to Princess Celestia and gave her a hug. He then walked over to Princess Luna and also gave her a hug.

After all the hugging, Princess Celestia spoke up.

“I do believe there is a bush over there where you can change behind. After all, those clothes you are in are still stained with blood…”

“Yeah, I think that would be a good idea.”

“Aw, and that was one of my great winter designs too!” Rarity complained.

Charlie turned around to Rarity.

“Oh, I’m sorry about the shirt and the coat.”

Rarity smiled.

“Oh, don’t worry about it. At least your back.”

Charlie smiled deeply.

“I’m truly lucky to have friends like you guys!” Charlie exclaimed before he walked off to the bush and began to change.

“Hey, did you guys have me cleaned!” Charlie shouted out from behind the bush.

“Yes Charlie, we didn’t change your clothes though. After all, we didn’t have a spare change for you.” Applejack responded.

“Alright!”

After a few minutes, Charlie walked out from behind the bush. He was clad in a pure white cloak, with a cape that was midnight blue on one side and white on the other. On the backside of the cape was the cutie marks of Celestia and Luna, conjoined together in a magnificent fashion. He also had midnight blue boots and pants on.

“Now then, for the finishing touch. Charlie, would you please come over here.” Celestia spoke up. She waited as Charlie walked over to Celestia, who then met him and placed something on his hair.

“Wow, Charlie, you look magnificent!” Rarity spoke up.

“What, what is it?!” He asked.

“Look at your hair, there’s something connected to it.”

Charlie pulled at a clump of stands on his hair, and then look at it.

“Wow, it truly is an honor, your majesties.

Connected to his hair were two feathers, one midnight blue and one white, from both of the princesses.

“It was nothing, Charlie. Now, for one last thing.” Princess Celestia spoke up. “I now name you a citizen of Equestria, congratulations.”

Charlie beamed. “Wow, thanks!”

After that, a few moments of silence passed before Luna cleared her throat.

“Now that we are finished, why don’t you tell us what happened on the island?” Princess Luna asked.

“Well, was an interesting experience,” Charlie spoke up. “First off, I told my friends about the story of Emperor John and his sons, one that I will also tell you as well, but that was on the ship. When we arrived near the island, we were meet by guards, who were questioning why we were there.”

“Yes, we stationed guards near the island, for entrance to island is forbidden.” Princess Celestia shook her head.

“Why is it forbidden?” Twilight asked.

“Every explorer we sent there never came back.” Celestia responded.

“Oh, well that might explain why there was some bones that still had a bit of flesh left on them.” Charlie added. “Well, anyways, after Twilight gave us permission, we entered the island. I lead the group to the palace, where we found the bones of Emperor John and the assassins, but once again that is a story I will have to tell you another time. Anyways, I then lead them to the chamber of the Great Tree.”

“We knew there was some type of power source there, but we could never find out what it was.” Princess Luna said.

“Yes, you’re right, there was a power source there, the Great Tree. Basically, it is one giant power crystal.”

“What is a power crystal?” Princess Celestia asked.

“A crystal that provides power, siphoned from another power source. The power source can be anything, even life force!” Charlie said dramatically.

Princess Celestia thought about it for a minute, then looked back at Charlie.

“What happened to this ‘power crystal’?”

“I don’t know…”

“We brought it with us.” Twilight spoke up, cutting off Charlie.

“May we see it?” Princess Celestia asked politely.

“Sure.” Twilight Sparkle then teleported out of the room, but soon came back with saddle bags on her back.

“Here you go.” Twilight gave the head sized crystal to Princess Celestia, who took it in her magical grasp. She examined it for a few minutes, then placed it down right next to her.

“This looks promising. Did you find anything else while you were there?” Princess Celestia asked.

“Yes, in fact, we did. We also found a few staves like this one.” Twilight pulled a staff that was strapped to her back and gave it to the princess.

“Interesting. Is that it?” The Princess asked.

“Oh, and there’s this book we found near the tree.”

Twilight gave the book to Princess Celestia, who took it in her magical grasp. The princess examined the book, then opened it to the first page.

“Careful Princess, that book is rather old.” Charlie warned.

“Alright, I’ll take care of it.”

She placed the book right next to the staff and the crystal.

“Alright everypony, you may have to give us time to review the book, so I urge you to head home.”

“Thank you once more, princess.” Charlie said before he turned around to the ponies and followed them out the door.

Once they were out of the door, Princess Celestia turned to Princess Luna.

“This needs some research done into it, Luna. Care to read with me?”

“I would love to, Tia.”