//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Intoxicated With Knowledge // Story: The Other Life // by Illuminate Sparkle //------------------------------// What is happening? I've lived here now over a month, in a world where someone like me, a human, never been seen before. Even Princess Celestia was surprised over my very existence. Somepony who have lived thousands of years had never seen anyone like me. Maybe there is a reason behind this. Maybe he is merely an illusion, maybe... Thousands of questions and suggestions pondered inside Cecilio's head while he looked towards the smiling boy who played with a beautiful butterfly. Just who is he? "I see, you are very confused over my appearance which is understandable." the boy began with a soft voice while letting the butterfly sit on his small fragile finger. "Just give me some time and I will do my best to guide you - to the right path." The whole setting was almost a little absurd for Cecilio. For one did this human magically appear a random summer evening on an empty country trail. Secondly, did he speak way too complicated for his age. Cecilio had never seen a human child before, or rather didn't remember one - but still remembered it the same moment one appeared before him. "And this is no illusion, I'm very real and the same as you." the boy continued while showing him his right hand which he had kept behind his back, thus showing the red beautiful gem he was holding. "T-that's the same s-stone I have..." Cecilio stammered while he took up his rock from the jacket pocket. The boy threw his stone towards Cecilio while he said "Keep it". Both of these two stones were two halves belonging to each other. Nervous fingers connected the two of them and the pieces became one - shaped like a heart. "So Pinkie Pie was right.." mumbled Cecilio for himself, thinking back to the first night on the hill. What was even more interesting was that the gem changed color into a harmony between black and white, each side also having a small section of each color. Cecilio continued to stare at his new stone while an interest in knowing more flourished inside him. "Who are you?" Cecilio asked while looking curious towards the boy. "My name and existence is irrelevant but if I would describe myself, I'm the one who will bring you the truth." Here we go again, way too complex talk for a child like him. "I know you have been studying with Twilight in order to find your past from your last life. I know you have that itching feeling inside you, even though you are living happily with your new life, still seeking the actuality of your own life. In the end of the day is that really worth it? Why can't you live the life you always wanted, instead, focusing on what was the root of your problems." Cecilio looked confused to the child. Live the life I always wanted? The root of my problems? "How do you know about Twilight? What do you mean and who is you?" flew desperate and curious words from the larger man. The boy ignored his words while letting the butterfly climb around his fingers. A sudden hot repelling feeling took control over Cecilio and he grabbed the shoulders of the boy while looking with a more intense look towards him. "Who are you?" A smile cracked on the boy's sugary lips. "You shouldn't let yourself slip into darkness that easily." The butterfly seemed to get startled by Cecilio's sudden movements and left the little young man's finger while dancing in the air between the two of them. It instantly grew and transformed itself into another being with a black long robe, silken black hair and intense yellow eyes. The peering eyes and event startled Cecilio who took a few steps back. The creature however grabbed Cecilio's left hand while giving him two quick kicks in the stomach. A gurgling puny sound were heard from Cecilio who fell to the ground, looking up towards his superior. "You gotta be kidding me." the fallen human panted while realizing his situation. Two humans were standing before him now. The one standing next to the boy was slightly longer and slightly more muscular than Cecilio and had a beastly face. He looked disgusted on the miserable creep laying on the ground. "You shouldn't have interfered, yet." the boy spoke calmly. "A perplexed toy like him, touching the very essence of the ultimate truth." the other answered with a hateful voice." He shouldn't even have the chance of rising from the ashes created by his own flames." "It was inevitable that this would happen to him. After all, He gave this chance to Cecilio and it's our duty to tell him the differences between the two paths." The other merely grunted without looking to the boy. "Will you try to solve your own little puzzle by so called knowledge or instead try to live as you should be here. You are earthbound, stay that way." the boy stated with a stiff voice. Cecilio's strength had by now returned to him and he slowly returned to his feet. Every word had been sunken deep within him. "Until the next time...Cecilio" continued his soft voice. "- No, wait!" yelled Cecilio while going further towards them. "Remember, we will be watching you" ended the boy with a hiss. "Wait!" yelled Cecilio even louder while running towards them. With a swish were them gone, as if their existence had never been there. Cecilio fell trembling down on his knees. "M-magic..?" he stuttered silently. Of course it's magic! The violent one was first a butterfly and was able to transform into a human, like me, besides they teleported, so of course can they use magic! Cecilio grabbed a small rock beside him and hit himself with it on his forehead. The pain eliminated the stupid thoughts while reason stepped in. Think now... Think carefully. First I should begin to doubt, degrading everything they done, said, in order to come up with an answer. That's what Twilight have tried to teach me, one of the reasons why I visited her every evening. So I could learn and use that awareness into good use. Was this just an illusion? Cecilio picked up the heart shaped black and white stone. Of course not! Why else would I have this item now?! Cecilio bit his lips while concentrating even harder. One of them could change his very subsistence into another, could he be a changeling which Twilight mentioned earlier? No, that would still mean they must have met these humans before and that wouldn't explain the fact how knowledgeable they were of me. Actually, it seemed they knew more of me than I do myself... "Two paths eh? According to that kid should I spend more time living my life instead of finding more about my past... " Cecilio talked to himself while sitting down on the grass trail. But how can I trust them? Maybe their inference was simply indoctrination of a lie, maybe finding out about my past is indeed more importantly than I think..? SWOOOSH And Cecilio was laying on the ground while having a happy Pinkie Pie sitting on his stomach. "We are baaaaaack" Pinkie Pie yelled mirthful while hugging Cecilio like crazy. "Have you missed us? Have you? Have you? Because I sure did miss you!" "You know, the day isn't the same without you." Cecilio replied quite flirtatious while blinking with one eye. "Silly you!" Pinkie Pie answered with red cheeks while filling his mouth with pink cupcakes. The other five ponies from the mane six joined Cecilio while he asked them how the trip went. "Meh, the conflict ended peacefully even before we were able to be there." Rainbow Dash answered with a bored voice, "I was expecting some action, drama and -" she interrupted herself by flying high up in the air. "It was a wonderful trip, Cecilio. We saw so many animals and we didn't have to get involved with a scary war." Fluttershy whispered glad with the sweetest voice. "Awesomeness!" Rainbow Dash ended her sentence by landing infront of him. "Darling please..." uttered a voice filled with elegance while looking somewhat annoyed to Rainbow Dash."Yes, as you can see Cecilio so are we back just after two days and yes, we had the most magnificent of a trip. However I would like to remind my friends that Celestia wished the content of our trip to be a secret." Rarity ended the sentence with a rather sharp tone while looking to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. "Oh...I'm sorry..." squeaked a tiny voice. "But we didn't do anyth-" An orange hoof was placed in Rainbow Dash mouth for a second. "Ah suppose dat's right Rarity. But who were YOU talking to Cecilio? We could'a hear ya voice while we were walkin' from the hill." Apple Jack interrogated with an innocent desire of knowing. Before Cecilio had even the time to open his mouth interrupted Twilight with a speech of how tired she was and it was getting pretty late. This made it naturally to end the conversation with a "Goodbye, have a pleasant evening etc". Everypony eventually split up and went home and Cecilio gave Twilight a grateful glance, however, she answered back by a worried brief look. ***** Pinkie Pie and Cecilio walked back in the middle of Ponyville to Sugarcube corner. Pinkie Pie wanted to make him some very delicious muffins which she just knew he was going to love. She then continued to talk dashing about the trip she was told not to talk about. Cecilio merely smiled and occasionally laughed while hes thoughts where somewhere else. Even Pinkie Pie understood something was not too right and tried cleverly to make him tell her the problem. "FINE! Just tell me what's wrong already!" She shrieked friendly. "Oh that's right!" Cecilio unexpected raised his voice."Thank you for reminding me of what I was thinking about Pinkie. I forgot my stone at Twilight's house a few days ago before you left to that adventure." He hugged Pinkie Pie while running towards Twilight's house. "Okay, I'll be baking those muffins then!" Pinkie Pie shouted while waving her front legs towards the running human. "Thank you Pinkie! I'll be back soon!" He ran as fast as he could while holding the stone in his jacket pocket, feeling guilty of his lie. At the same time didn't he want to scare her with such a petty situation, at least not yet... Cecilio knocked carefully on the wooden door while waiting impatiently. "Oh hello Cecilio, good timing! Twilight have just arri-" "It's okay Spike, just let him in" Twilight's voice was heard from the living room. Both Spike and Cecilio got surprised by her sudden interruption but he listened to her and began to continuing his duties. "Isn't it a little late for you to washing floors Spike?" Cecilio asked carefully. "Well... I didn't expect Twilight to come home so early so I have been doing - nothing. Except for eating ice cream, that is" Spike ended the sentence while dreaming about better times. "Besides, don't you have anything better to do then reading some books with Twilight?" Spike asked a little cheeky. "Apparently not." Cecilio replied with a smile. Twilight was reading a thick book while walking around the room. She immediately closed it and put the book away when she noticed him. Instead levitated Twilight Sparkle two chairs and pointed her hoof to one the chairs. At the same moment his lower part of the body touched the chair she asked "Now, who did you really talk to back then?" Cecilio looked surprised to Twilight, amazed over the mare's usually sharpness. He told her everything. Every detail of what he remembered. She was simply shocked but at the same time focused and wrote down everything he said. After a cup of tea and way too many words uttered, broke a silence between them. It was all so amazing and scary that they didn't have words for it. One specific question was inevitable though. "What do you want to do Cecilio? Try to learn more about your past with the help of magic and books or stop it, so maybe, they will leave." I don't know Twilight, the way the boy ended everything seemed almost like we would meet each other at least one more time. Besides, what if something important happened in my past which they want to hide from me?" Twilight closed her eyes while nodding. "Let us continue the evening-lessons and at the same time prepare us. I won't tell anypony about this, not even..." Twilight gulped."Princess Celestia, but then you have to pinkie-promise if these weird humans hurt you or somepony else. You have to inform me." "I promise to-" "Pinkie-promise." interrupted Twilight with a worried voice. Cecilio committed the act and she seemed instantly to get a bit more relieved. "The only reason I won't tell anypony or the princess about this is only because I'm afraid it could make you suffer even more... Just be careful, okay?" Cecilio hugged her before making his leave. Wow one hour already? I hope Pinkie isn't angry or worried about my late arrival... Cecilio ran through the empty village that was covered with a nice summer feeling. Cecilio saw the spore who danced around in the wind and heard the sounds of talking and laughing ponies who sat indoors having a great time. Ponyville were always so cozy, always filled with so many good memories. He arrived a few minutes later outside Mr and Mrs Cakes house, as quiet as possible he crept through the house making sure he wouldn't disturb the twins nor the parents. He then slowly went upstairs, opened the door and "SURPRISE!" Balloons, confectionery and glitter was thrown in his face while a pink pony jumped around while playing on her trombone. Cecilio quickly shut the door, worried the others would wake up from such noise. He then walked in the room and saw a round table covered with muffins, together forming a heart. "Wow..." Cecilio said almost speechless. Pinkie Pie landed in front of him and gave him a kiss on his chin. "I think I really like-like you" Like-like? A happy expression glowed from him. He gave her a kiss on her forehead. Whispered in her right ear "Thank you." The rest of the evening got spend on eating muffins, chatting and playing boardgames, until they fell asleep in her soft bed in his arms. All the negative he had witnessed during the day did no longer exist, when he was with his closest friend, Pinkie Pie.