Echo of Insanity

I Heard Music

Pinkamena's life had changed since that moment….That beautiful, stunning, dazzling sight which made her mane big and fluffy. When she saw the rainbow soaring through the sky her broken heart had been mended almost instantly, all the years of pain and abuse from her father seemed to vanish in that moment, from that moment on Pinkamena saw life so differently and had never let anything drag down her high spirit since. Her heart was free and nopony could take that from her….She may still work on a rock farm but the blatant truth remained…She was free.

After five years since she met that strange little creature, she would always smile when she thought of Aphilio. How their instant friendship was formed followed by their game of Tag which she still remembered as though it had only happened moments ago yet the sad truth remained…She promised to see him again…..She had planned sneaking out for a while now and after many times of doing so she had become quite adept with stealth.

While laying on her bed with her chin resting upon the pillow she wondered if he had forgotten about her or if she did show up now he would be angry because she promised him…However despite all the negative outcomes she just envisioned an older Aphilio tackling her with the best hug ever and then asking if they could play another game of Tag.

Pinakmena's room had dark, cream walls, which did not serve well to spread the light from a candle which stood on her bedside table. The bed itself was pushed into the corner of the room, it was how she preferred it, the sheets of the bed were a dark shade of pink as were the pillows. There was not much she wanted other than her simple room, not that she would be allowed anything more, well…..she did want that creature to come back to. If only her best friend could be with her in her sanctuary….

She hopped off the bed and went over to the window opposite her bed, it was dark enough to not be seen and she wanted to go back to her friend now more than ever. As far as check ups were concerned she had no worries as she presented herself as the obedient one...it killed her inside during those moments she would have to back down to her abusive father however it earned her the benefit of the doubt and it was that which would allow her to she her friend once again.

The window slid open and Pinkamena slipped into the outside world, fresh air filling her lungs. Now her only thought was to find the cave….It would be a task for someone who had not bothered to trace their tracks over the years yet that's what she did whenever she was out….She would run along the same path she did to escape her father….The path which led to him.

When she did approach the cave she was sure it had gotten smaller over the years or she had simply grown from being a little filly, she was sure of the latter. As she approached her mane began to drop and become straight rather than being, what had become normal for her, a huge fluffy ball of candy floss.

'What's all this about?' She questioned what was happening to the state of her hair, not that she minded how it looked especially as it was now longer.

Du Dun Dun Du Du Dun Dun Du Dun Dun Du Du Dun Dun

A jolly tune found her ears and soon she noticed that the music was in fact an echo….All she had to do was go back into the cave again. She galloped through the darkness which once again began to consume her, just how she remembered. The music continued to become clearer and as she got closer the tune became louder.

Soon many lights of different colors could be seen, red, blue, yellow and pink lit up the darkness. The lights seemed to be coming from some sort of strange contraption which was spinning around in circles, the music rose the lowered as it went around and around. As she get even closer she saw something sat upon….What looked like a pony with a pole through it and as it went around it rose and fell with the sound. The rider of the white horse held a white stick with a big ball of cotton candy on the end of it, the rider would take a bite out of it every time he went round.

She was right in front of the contraption which made her want to jump onto one of the different colored horses herself and enjoy the ride yet she was too shy to make her presence known to the oblivious rider. He just sat there going around….and around…and around….Watching him take bites out of the candy floss made her hungry for the sugary treat in his possession.

Pinkamena had no doubt that the rider eating candy floss was Aphilio, who else could live in the vast darkness besides the little creature she met. Did anything else live here? Had she gone the wrong way and come across something else?

Bringing herself back to reality she gasped as the ride had stopped spinning and the rider was staring at her with a blank face, bored would be a better term, however black hair with a purple streak concealed the left half of his face. The only real sound was the music being played from the ride and the occasional sound of breathing, Pinkamena began feeling uncomfortable under it's gaze.

Clang!

Aphilio, at least she hoped it was, hopped off the white horse and stood at the edge of the ride's platform. His appearance had changed greatly however she just knew it was him, his face and skin meant it simply had to be him. He wore a black top hat, which had a heart, spade and a joker card on the left side held by a black band around the base of the hat. Around his neck was a pair of pilot goggles which had bronze rims. Aphilio wore a long white, button up, shirt with a black waist coat and a pink tie furthermore he wore black, pinstripe, pants which were held up by a skull shaped belt buckle. Upon his feet were black boots which ended below the knee and had buckles on each side.

Pinkamena had to admit his slender figure certainly suited the clothing which seemed to fit him perfectly, almost like it was tailored for him. The only other reliable thing she could go off was the black hair which covered the left side of his face however the purple streak which came from under the top hat and straight to the ends of his hair, the streak went straight through where his other eye was.

She looked him in the eye which seemed to have changed as well, it was now exciting neon pink instead of a plain and calm pink. Suddenly his eye twitched, he began squinting and even leaned forward as to get a better look at Pinkamena. Aphilio then brought his right hand to his chest and waved at her, although it was slow and unsure excitement took over her mind and she waved back. Aphilio's mouth visibly dropped and now she knew it was him! He had recognized her after all these years!

POOF!

The huge beaming smile which was half of Pinkamena's face suddenly vanished as Aphilio had…..In a puff of pink smoke…..Vanished…..She had waited so long and now when she finally finds him, he disappears! Her eyes became wet and she felt a few tears roll down her cheeks.

POOF!

"PINKAMENA!"

Pink smoke blinded her while a force flew into her and tackled her to the ground, she saw the silhouette of the creature straddling her. When it cleared Aphilio had a beaming smile upon his face and Pinkamena's had returned from the sadness which consume her. Aphilio wrapped his arms around her neck and hugged her tightly 'This is my Aphilio…My best friend' she thought to herself with tears of happiness now forming.

After some time Aphilio released her and helped her to her to stand on all four hooves. She had to admit although they had only met for a while it felt like she had found a long lost friend, her heart pounded as butterflies tickled her stomach.

"I'm so sorry for not coming over". Were his first words, it touched her heart that he was worried about her.

"It's okay, I guess it has been a long time since we last me and you probably didn't recognize me". She said with a smile to try and lift his mood.

"Oh I haven't stopped thinking about you". Her eyes stopped still and her checks heated up. "I have just seen so many illusions that I thought were you…I just wanted to be sure". 'So that's why…'

"Really? Well I have wanted to see you ever since I left…..How did that get here and what did you just do?"

Aphilio's eye held a light within it. "I am just happy I can finally see you and speak to you again. Remember what you said to me all that time ago? really helped me! It's how I can do all these amazing things!"

Pinkamena was quite confused although she did remember what she said to him as a little filly, was that why he disappeared in a puff of smoke? Why there was now a spinning ride and why he now had a lollipop in his mouth?

"Wow…..You have grown up". Aphilio held the lollipop in his mouth whilst he spoke. "Say how old are you now?"

His question was random and quite out of the blue but it was expected after so long being apart, in fact she was excited to just talk to him. "Well I am ten now, it was my birthday last month". Aphilio's scrunched up face was not the reaction she expected.

"What! No! That's not faiiiiir! Why are you ten and I'm not!?" His fit was childish and somewhat cute to Pinkamena. "Well next year I'll be ten too! Then we can both be ten! TEN BUDDIES!"

The rapid mood swings were hilarious especially as he was now jumping about in joy, she wondered if they could both stay together in his own little world forever. Again she was dragged out of her thoughts when Aphilio pulled her onto her hind legs and began ballroom dancing, he pulled her close and had an arm wrapped around her waist, also Pinkamena wondered 'When did he get a mask?'

As the danced he snapped his fingers and a bunch of floating instruments appeared with Poof's of pink smoke, the instruments came to life and began playing a soothing symphony while they danced. Pinkamena looked into the eye behind the beaked mask and blushed lightly, the scene was quite romantic and she let herself be swept away in the dance.

"Aphilio?"

"Hm?"

"I really missed you….I'm sorry I left you for so long". Her head rested on his shoulder and swore that he was the comfiest thing ever.

"You don't have to apologize for anything Pinkamena. I always knew you would come back, my heart knew, I managed to hone my mind to remembering your words and well….Here I am. So don't apologize to me, just let me dance with you". Pinkamena's heart was pounding in her chest, she was in fairytale. Here she was dancing with a masked figure with beautiful music soothing her senses, not to mention his flawless dancing.

"O-Of course, you are a wonderful dancer, where did you learn how to dance?" She didn't know if there were more creatures like Aphilio or if he managed to teach himself.

"I read books to learn and I used dummies to practice dancing, I even have my own house now. Actually I have ton's of books though I have read all of them but I am can get new ones, would you like some I don't know if you like reading or not but they are amazing!"

Aphilio's reply was quite baffling however her mind had adjusted to the spontaneous and random nature of his world and….Powers? "Where is your house Aphilio? And I really want to ask again…How do you do all this?"

"Haha…When you told me, all that time ago, that all I need to do is think about how I want something? Well that's what I started doing and now I am still figuring out all the things I can do. I would also like to take you to my house Pinkamena….If you would like too". Pinkamena just hummed a response as she seemed to be in bliss currently and if he did not have the mask on she would see his dark red cheeks.

Pinkamena closed her eyes and just let Aphilio lead her about their own little world together. She knew he was a year younger yet with the way he moved and his demeanor he seemed twice his age, not that she minded him like this. Suddenly she was picked up in a bridal fashion and when her eyes opened she was looking at a wooden beamed roof then she was set down on something comfy, where had he taken her?

She look to the right and met the comfy back of a couch and to the left was a cozy fire with a poker leaning on the left side of the fireplace, the scene was picturesque, to the right of the fireplace was a tall grandfather clock with engravings of flowers and vines, which Pinkamena thought was beautiful. All the walls were a deep red which made the room feel unimaginably cozy.

Pinkamena heard footsteps and without a doubt it was a mask less Aphilio with a two books in his hand, she moved to allow him to sit down next to her, when he sat down she made sure to cuddle up to him. He grabbed his hat and removed it revealing his black hair which fell down to his jaw his hair had fallen down on the right side masking his entire face.

"What have you got there?" She asked him while he swept back his hair which flawlessly stayed in place, the purple streak was now going through the center of his hair.

"Bram Stokers Dracula and Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux, both are great books, I want to give them to you". His smile caught her and she could only melt into him further.

"What are they about?" Pinkamena almost whispered as she could fall asleep at any moment.

"Well Dracula is about a man who turned his swore he would have his vengeance against God because the Church wouldn't bury his wife who, through a false letter, committed suicide believing her husband was dead. He lives as an immortal that drinks the blood of others to sustain his immortality however I don't want to spoil it for you. On the other hand, Phantom of the Opera is about a masked man who stalks a French opera house and from afar falls in love with one of the actors". Aphilio looked at Pinkamena and watched her resting on his shoulder…It gave him a caring smile.

A footrest appeared and he put his legs up before closing his eyes. 'Pinkamena….I am so happy…Just to see you again'. His last thoughts before slumber overcame him were. 'You showed me infinite possibilities'.

They stayed like that for hours….Simply enjoying one another even in sleep. Their bonds brought such happiness and joy, a beautiful thing really. It was a bond they would both need to survive…They will uncover feelings they never knew of and do things they nothing thought they could ever do…

Their story in actual fact, has just begun.