Afterlife

• Chapter Five •

The box was discarded on the floor.

     In one of Celestia’s hands was a pocket watch worn with age. Arielle, who was currently standing in awe, held the new pocket watch lacking scratches or any signs of damage. Despite the subtle differences, they knew the truth. They were the same.

     Celestia ran her thumb across the surface of the clock, feeling around the edges of the luna moth engraved into it. “What does this mean?” Her voice was a mere whisper as she spoke, eyes never leaving the item in hand. “Is it possible these are the same clocks?” Arielle hummed in response, her lips poking out as she dangled her own clock in hand. “They have to be, the design on them is the exact same. “This one,” the princess gestured to Celestia’s clock, “is scratched and worn with age. Mine, however, is in pristine condition. Things with my mother’s design on them can’t be owned by the town’s people unless they are specifically given out. Pocket watches have never been given out to the people.”

     “Then how did she get it? She didn’t seem to know who I was… I think,” a chill ran through Celestia’s spine. “Did she tell you anything? What did she look like?” Despite her collected appearance, Arielle’s eyes glimmered with anxiety. Something wasn't right. “Yeah, she had long wavy black hair, blue eyes that kinda looked like my red one, and as I said before, she has a bat soul. She mentioned to me that she had moved close by with her girlfriend. I assume recently since she made it sound like she had never been in the kingdom any time prior. Her name is Viola.” Arielle hummed, “...Viola doesn’t sound familiar. Her girlfriend, what was her name?” “Paige, Viola said her girlfriend would like me. I’m not sure if that helps though… is there something we are missing?”

     Arielle didn’t look positive by any means. Her face was downturned in a frown as she thought. “Your memories aren’t too helpful either… would you know anyone in life that would act weird around you?” “Memories?... you can see my memories?” Celestia watched as Arielle stiffened for a moment. “Right, I forgot about that. When giving someone their soul, we get glimpses of the person’s life. From the moment they are born to the time they die. Don’t worry, it’s just the important parts. I can’t hear anything the people are saying in the memories, only if the memories want me to hear.” Celestia felt herself lit up, “do you know how I died then? Or… or my life up to that point?” 

“You still don't remember? I wonder…”

     Celestia thought back to Arielle’s original question, ‘would you know anyone in life that would act weird around you?’ “I’ll talk to her again, see if I can learn more and how she got this clock.” Arielle looked her in the eyes, a glimmer of understanding passing between the two. “Your memories showed me you died in your sleep and the time before that was just… normal. If we’re on the same page then your memories must have been altered before I got to them.” Celestia glanced down at the watch in hand, “she must have something to do with it. If I’m correct, she must want me to talk to her again, she must be the reason I can’t remember.” 

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     There was idle chat for a while after. Celestia had forgotten all about her original reason for wanting to talk to the princess. Celestia had stripped herself of her suit jacket and shoes, laying against the mountain of pillows on her bed. Arielle, who was still in her room, was flat on her stomach, resting her head on her arms. A silence hung in the air like a fog. Celestia found herself internally trying to find some way to untangle the two from the awkwardness.

“Are you okay?”

     Arielle’s voice was startling at first. Celestia whipped her head over to see one of the princess’s blue eyes staring at her with a hint of humor behind them. “Yup! Actually, I was trying to find something to say, you seemed kinda bored so…” Arielle chuckled, “not at all, I never get a chance to just relax like this. Although, it probably is getting late isn’t it? I shouldn’t be taking up all your space like this.” Arielle was making a move to get up, only stopping when Celestia's hand landed on her shoulder. For a moment Celestia hesitated before speaking, “you don’t have to go if you don't want to… erm, I don’t mind if you stayed.”