//------------------------------//
// Anxiety Rises Pt.1 
// Story: Equestrian Lifestyle 
// by Bronze_drake 
//------------------------------//


Present: June 13, 2018


I snap out of my daydream when I heard a crash in the library I was approaching without my notice. When I arrived I opened the double doors and see Twilight panicking, and Spike buried under a pile of books. The only indication of him being there was a hand laying limply sticking out of the pile and on the floor. I walked over to him and pulled him out of the pile receiving a grateful look from Spike.

I looked at Twilight and asked Spike, "What is it this time?"

He sighed, "I don't know man, she just burst in here and started ranting about someone named Nightmare Moon. And in the process, accidentally knocked me and all these books over, and made me crush Moondancer's birthday present." I looked at the smashed remains of the present and there was no fixing that.

"Relax, I have plenty of gifts for her in my room, I'll let you give her one," I said.

"Thanks, Jay. That's a relief."

"No problem, you know I always have a backup plan just in case," I stated. "Alright, so how are we handling mighty mouth over there this time?" We both looked towards the still ranting and raving Twilight.

"Eh," he shrugged. "Let's wait for her to stop being insane, I'm kinda tired from her waking me up."

I nodded. So for about 30 minutes, I and my brother talked about meaningless things for a while and had a few laughs from the stories we tell. This is what happens sometimes when Twilight is in scholar mode, she'd go on a spiel about some pointless or important thing and we'd try to calm her down or stick to the sidelines. We learned how to listen to anything important though if she asked if we were listening. We developed a way to not pay attention but listen at the same time. It comes in handy.

We turn back to our surrogate sister as she stopped her crazy rant and calms down. So I walk to her and gave her a hug. She looked like she needed it, and apparently, I was right because she nearly crushed me in a hug. Soon Spike joins and everything starts to fully calm down. After much reassurance from both me and Spike, I decided to take a quick peek at some of the books I hadn't read yet.

When I couldn't find anything I turned back to see what my siblings were doing but stopped when something glistened in the corner of my eye. I turned my head to the object to see a book. It wasn't an ordinary book though. The book was completely silver and looked metal but when I touched it, it felt soft and warm. I was going to open it but was interrupted by a loud burp and green light erupting in the room. So putting the book back I went over to where Spike was and saw that he was reading a scroll.

I waited until he was done a read through and spoke, "Hey Spike, whats going on ?" I asked

"Apparently," Spike started looking towards me. "We have to go to a village to check on the Summer Sun Celebration that's coming up. And help Twi make friends." He finished with a snicker.

"Finally," I said with a chuckle. I laughed more when Twi shot me a mild glare. "What?"

"Ugh. I just don't see the point in friendship if it'll only distract me from my studies." Twilight said with a groan.

Spike and I looked at each other than at an irked Twilight.

"Well," Spike started. "You need sunlight, you're starting to get pale and I don't think that's healthy..."

Twilight looks at her skin.

"And," I continued. "You're becoming more distant with everyone and I definitely know that, that isn't healthy. You're even becoming distant with us, the ones you see as little brother's, but every time we try to get you to hang out with us you say 'Not now' or 'I can't' or even just a plain 'No.' We even try reading WITH you but you say we're distracting you even though we didn't make a single sound."

Twilight's mouth opens to respond but couldn't over the guilt setting in. Only one more thing to put the nail in the metaphorical coffin and it was Spike who said it.

"And don't forget mom," this get's Twilights attention. "You've even missed breakfast, lunch, and dinner and frankly she's starting to worry that you don't want to be here. Mom invited you each time to spend time with us but you turned each one down to "study,'" he finished with an air quote. Spike and I sat waiting silently for Twilight (Who had a horrified look on her face) to respond. After a while, she spoke.

"Okay, maybe I should start being more social..."

"Ya think." I and Spike said in unison.

Twi looks up at the clock and panic starts to take up 100% of her face. I guess we're on a time limit because the next thing I know, Twilight was levitating both Spike and me, her purple rhinestone on her forehead glowing, and started to drag us towards what I think is where our transportantion to the village is. 

As we're dragged down the street we passed to women by the name of Lyra and BonBon who then asked if we were still going to Moondancer's party. I and Spike both yelled 'YES' at the same time as we passed them. They nodded at us and walked off. Soon we were inside a small chariot, I didn't really like how high we were up so I closed my eyes to take a small nap as Twi and Spike talked.



Inside the Dream

I was floating in a white room of nothingness. This would sometimes happen when I took a small nap or rest for a bit, I don't know how or why or really understand it, but then again who does? All I know is that this started happening after my 16th birthday.

What I do understand is that in this white room I'm floating in, there is no up or down, left or right,  or anything that would come to mind. Even the laws of physics don't apply. In this room, I control whatever I like. For example, if I said, "LET THERE BE LIFE!" there will be life. Trees will grow, flowers would bloom, and the sun will rise. Another example, if I flick my wrist mountains will touch the heavens, if I were to think hard enough I could make calm oceans and my breath would be a cool breeze, and at my command, the moon rises. I tried the sun but it just stayed there.

Basically, this is my universe and I'm the god of what I liked to call 'The Void Realm'.

Sometimes in the Void of my realm, I could see a valley in the distance. The only problem with that is that... I didn't create this valley, I mean I created plenty of forests and valley's but the valley in the far distance isn't mine and at some points, in time I could hear soft singing in the distance. For now, I'll just leave it be, it isn't bothering anyone in the slightest and frankly, the soft song in the wind is a calming feeling.

Getting back on track, as I float there in the white area trying to figure what I want to do or create first. 'Hmm...Maybe a skyscraper for me to skydive off of. Or how about a war simulator. Or maybe-.' I stopped thinking when the soft melody started up again, '-some relaxation...' This would always happen sometimes when I want to do something thrill seeking. Every time I try something fun (dangerous) the melody starts.

"Oh well, relaxing it is," I say in defeat as I conjure up a beach. The sand was warm, and the air was cool, I then make two palm trees with a hammock attached to it. I change into a Hawaiian button up shirt with cargo shorts as I donned a pair of sunglasses on. I listened to the peaceful melody as I continued to lay there.

While relaxing I got curious of who and where the song was coming from, so listening closely I turned to the direction of where it was coming from. I got up from the hammock and started walking in that direction. Something told me to go faster and I started to speed walk. I don't know why I'm so interested in who was singing but I need to know. I HAVE to know.

I had barely noticed that I was running at a full sprint at a speed I didn't know I could accomplish as the music only gotten louder, what I did notice was me running straight into a forest. Pushing branches out of the way, jumping over fallen trees and stumps, and crossing rivers, I had finally made it to a clearing. As I took a step I heard a twig snap next too and under my foot. I slowly turn my head and see a person next to me. My eyes widen when I finally recognize who was standing next to me. It was Spike.

"What are you doing in my head?" We said in unison. "Your head, this is my head!"

Spike spoke, "Look all I know is that, I went for a small nap and went to my world-err our world I guess, and was about to create a lion to try and tame but stopped when a nice melody started. So I shrugged, made a lawn chair and book to read and started to relax. After about a couple of minutes, I finally got curious and went to search for whoever was singing," Spike explained. "What about you?"

I started, "Same with me but instead of lion taming, I was actually going to skydive off of a skyscraper without a parachute."

"Ah dude, I should'a did that!"

"Oh quit whining and help me find the one making us relax instead of adrenaline rushing us to death."

Spike grumbled as we continued to search for the angelic voice. We moved closer to the clearing and hid behind a tree while Spike hid in a bush. We peeked at the clearing and saw a woman sitting on a boulder, she looked impatient and in her late 40s. She had pale white skin that looked almost translucent, violet-blue hair, and amethyst colored eyes. She wore a pure white dress but didn't have shoes or heels.

"Jay, who is that and what is she doing in our heads?" Spike asked in a whisper to me.

I turned to him, "How should I know?" I whispered back, "It's not like I created her, for all I know your perverted mind could have conjured her up."

"I told you that magazine isn't mine," Spike said in a harsh whisper. "That was Shinings magz and you know it. It even had his name on it!"

I chortled and whispered back to him, "I know, I'm just bustin' your chops. It was hilarious when Twilight and mom caught you with it."

Spike was going to say something back but was interrupted by the woman, who was now standing over us, clearing her throat. We looked at her and back to each other than back to the woman and weakly waved, "Uh...Hi?" We asked in unison.

The woman said with an agitated look, "Who pray tell, might you be? More importantly, how did you get into this realm, a sacred place? If I see any form of deceit, punishment will be dire." She spoke in a soft yet stern tone of voice making us flinch and gulp.

"Uh, shouldn't we be asking that question-?" I was interrupted.

"Answer. The. Question..." She said through gritted teeth.

Spike and I looked at her and shrugged, an action that seemed to catch her off guard and I swore I saw a hurt look. I could tell Spike seen this too, but we kept quiet anyway. We walked past the woman who had her head down in thought and sat down in the clearing. She took notice and looked at us questioningly. We only smiled and gestured for her to do the same, to which she did so hesitantly.

"Well, seeing as the only way we can leave is to wake up, so I say we get acquainted and talk for the time being," I said and everyone agreed. The woman looked confused when I said wake up. She decided to speak first.

"...Ok then, my name is Amethyst, and this is my and my children's realm..." 

My mind went blank when I heard her say her name and Spike was in the same position as me, I was the first to recover thinking it was just a coincidence.

"M-my name is Jacob-" Amethyst eyes widened and tears were pouring down. "-and this is my brother Spike." I finished and the next thing I know, I was pulled into a crushing hug.

*sob* "I-I can't believe this, my babies are here. Oh, thank Faust Almighty." *sob* Amethyst cried. She then held us at arm's length, looking at us closely in the eyes, hair, and face in general. 

"W-who are you?" Spike asked quietly.

"Your mother of course." She said.

"I'm finding this hard to believe. I-I thought you were... dead." I said barely above a whisper.

"I am," she spoke softly. "And I'm so sorry..." *Sob*

I looked over to Spike to see him crying, so I pull him and the woma- er my mom into a hug. We cried for a couple of hours just sitting in the small patch of grass, trying to calm our selves down, and after a couple of minutes we got ourselves together and were quietly sitting in a small circle, red puffy-eyed.

Spike was the first to speak, "So, this is what you look like?" He gained a thoughtful look, "I kinda thought you'd have green hair."

Mom giggles, "No, that trait would come from your father. And Barb would also have his looks too." Then she turned to me, "But Jacob has his grandfathers look."

"Huh, I was wondering about that, I figured that Spike would look like dad, Barb looks obviously comes from you but has green hair, and I'd get my looks somewhere else. Guess I was right." I said with a shrug.

"I'm just glad that Spike looks his father, you have your grandfather's looks, and Barb looks like me." Mom smiled.

I felt a pang in my chest when thinking about Barb. I haven't heard from my sister in 8 years of living with my brother and adoptive mother and surrogate sister. Mom must have seen my hurt look because the next thing I know was being pulled in a crushing hug. She raised my head and looked into my eyes and said...

"Don't worry too much she's fine," I gave her a confused look. "I know this because sometimes she comes into here and visits or waits for the both of you to show up. She misses you both terribly." When she said this, I felt 8 years of weight get lifted off my shoulder. I smiled brightly at her.

"Ok, thanks-" just then the world started to shake. "-Oh c'mon I just found you, I don't want to lose you again. I have so many things to ask and talk about with you."

She held up my chin and said, "You won't lose me again, and I'll always be with you. But when you come back your sister will be here." She finished just as the world started to fade. Her voice had a slight echo to it. I and Spike smiled and nodded. Soon the world went dark.


 The Real World 



*Gasp-cough-cough* I woke with a start and tried to get my breathing under control while looking at Spike to see him doing the exact same thing. He looked at me and asked, "Dude, did that really happen?"

"I'm guessing yes since we both know what had happened..."

"...So that was-"

"Mom? Yes, yes it really was."

We sat there quiet, the only interruption being Twilight who was snoring quietly while mumbling something about algebra and string theory, we laughed at this. 

Spike turned to me, "So, should we tell Mom and Twilight about this or should we wait?"

"...We should wait. If we tell mom, she'll have a breakdown and worry all day and Twi would only use this as an excuse to go back to Cantorlot and 'study' this."

Spike agreed, "Yeah, you're probably right. Besides we don't want mom to break into a crying fit in the middle of the celebration. Now that would be a downer."

I was about to speak when the chariot stopped at the town we were staying in for the time being. I tried to wake up Twilight but she was a heavy sleeper. So Spike sat next to her and said loudly, "Hurry Twilight, school's starting, you don't want to be late do you!?" 

"No, not a tardy!" Twilight yelled as she shot up from her seat and proceeded to bang her head against the off of the chariot.

I and Spike laughed loudly, making her turn to us glaring at us while rubbing the top of her head. She leaned forward and smacked us in the back of our heads.

"That was not funny!" She pouts, only making us laugh harder as we get out of the vehicle.

"You gotta stop falling for that then," Spike said after getting control of his lungs. "What was that? The 131st time you fell for that old gag. sheesh, you don't even go to school anymore."

"Hmmph!" was her reply as she gets her hair in order.

I finally got my breath back, "Oh Twi, your so adorkable." I said as we started to walk down the road.

Twilight made a face, "That's not even a real word!"

"It is in my book!" I laughed. Twilight rolled her eyes and continues walking, me and Spike following close behind.

"Anyway's, let's get this over with so we can head to the library and get started on the Nightmare Moon business," Twilight says.

"Geez, at least try to enjoy meeting someone outside a library Twi?" Spike suggested.

She groaned, "Ugh, fine, but I won't like it." She walked up to a woman with hot pink poofy hair, "Excuse me, sorry to bother you-"

The pink-haired woman had turned around to see who was trying to get her attention, saw Twilight talking to her, gasped dramatically while jumping in the air, and ran leaving a path of dust in her wake. We were silent for a minute, Spike looked bewildered, I just shrugged, and Twilight had a blank look on her face. 

Twilight looked at us, still with a blank look, "We failed let's go back to Cantorlot." She turns to walk away until she remembered that we came on a chariot that had already left. She turned back to us with a defeated look now, "Nevermind, let's just get this over with and when we're done we'll head to the library."

She hands Spike a piece of paper and quill, "Go down the list and see where we're heading to first." She then turns back to me and hands me a list of places were going and a quill, "and you will check off the places and rate the from 10-1, it depends on the least to greatest." I looked at the list, seemed simple if not redundant.

"Alright, Spike, whose the first one on the list?" Twilight asked eagerly.

Spike looked at his list and gulps for some reason, he glanced at me. 'Why is he looking at me like that for?' He pulled Twilight to the side and starts to whisper to her harshly. She looked surprised for a minute and then looks at me with sudden trepidation. I was getting annoyed.

"What are you guys whispering about?"

They hesitated to look at me for a minute and then slowly turned my way and had uneasy smiles on their faces. I didn't like it one bit. I stepped towards them, which seemed to make them panic.

"Guy's?" I said with worry. "What's on that list?"

They turned back to eachother and started whispering again and I swore I heard Spike whisper, 'NO! I'm not telling him, he'll freak out, you do it!'

Twilight stepped forward. "Uh listen, Jacob, what I'm about to tell you, you have to promise me that you won't freak out, please?" She asked.

I didn't like where this was going but nodded anyway.

"Okay... the first person we're going to see is a farmer." She said.

"Um ok, what's the problem?" I asked after not receiving any further explanation.

"Uh, you see her n-name is..." She paused, looking towards Spike for help, he gestured for her to keep going which confused me. So with a sigh, she said, "...Applejack-Apple..."