//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1: A Live Stream 
// Story: Line Space facing the Mirrored Foe 
// by Line Space 
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Chapter 1: A Live Stream and a Question

“Well, that sucked about as much as it normally does, and why do I need math to begin with,” groaned a 17 year old colt staring at his computer screen wondering when he could stop the classes. He desperately wished to be like the other ponies his age who got to work and have fun performing his special talent. His stupid talent meant he needed study and practice in Celestia’s online school for 4th wall dummies. Yawning he walked over to his personal fridge and pulled out a water bottle, taking a long drink before looking back across his room to perform one of his daily exercises.

From one corner of the room to the other he saw his bed, his computer chair and desk, his computer which was an amazing gift from a mysterious downer, and his mini-fridge which he was standing next to. Now to analyze it. The bed is small and coated in toys and snacks from multiple days of neglect, probably because someone was jumping from one thing to the next. The mini-fridge which was stocked with various snacks and water bottles showed a more solitary attitude aimed at staying away from others or at maximum convenience for someone who spent lots of time in his room. The computer chair,desk, and computer were all set up facing the wall meaning that the mind inside…. was noponies business. He frowned at the scowl he had made and started working his way back to the computer.

“So why do we even do those stupid exercises. We should start making analyses on the things in this world and the pathetic people in it,” said a voice at the back of his mind. An angry voice that matched the angry red and black face in the reflection of the screen.

“Go away. I have a new episode to watch,” the young colt told the face in the screen. 

The one thing they could agree on was a show they had gotten into because of his brother,Jumbled Thought. The show was amazing and it followed the events of a couple famous ponies he’d actually managed to meet once or twice. He refused to believe that the world he lived in was the same that Twilight Sparkle and her friends did though. Even if it was it was still separate from this dark monitor illuminated world he now lived in now. Even RainbowDash or Fluttershy could probably never understand his world, but then again, no one did.

“I understand all too well the world you live in and how you could make their world like yours.” The young colt glared at the face, refusing to acknowledge that he could make them suffer. He would always be better than that and if this voice couldn’t understand that then it knew nothing about him. Either that or he just refused to consider what he should do. Entertainment media was always easier to understand. He could dive in happily and never be bothered by the real world, simply enjoying the worlds and concepts of others. At least they had pretty morals and could make sense at the end of the chapter and/or episode.

The computer took its time to boot up and as he waited he decided to stop and see his brother. Part of his daily exercises was to get some human contact and at least Jumbled couldprovide some entertainment. He walked down the hall rubbing his eyes at how much brighter the rest of the house was. They lived on the edge of Ponyville and his mom helped Mrs. Cheerilee watch the students on trips and during recess. His father worked nights and the young colt very rarely saw him. He did know that he was ashamed of his son’s intellectual talent that forced him to stay at home and learn rather than being a useful part of society. He pulled his brothers door open as these phantom thoughts slipped away and he prepared for his brother.

“Line Space! I was wondering if you would leave your room at all today seeing as a new episodes out,” his brother, Jumbled Thought said as he jumped out of his gaming chair. His twin, Jumbled had a red coat and styled his blue and orange mane in the same way that Line Space did. Line Space had a feeling it was his way of trying to get closer to his distant brother. “Oh hey, did you know that me and a bunch of other people are going to see Zeckora tomorrow. You should come and then we’ll have a great time and you can help me explain Sly Cooper to one of our friends.”As he finished this he gave Line Space a massive grin and waited eagerly for a reply.

“...Thank you but I don’t think it would be such a good idea. And NO its not because of him, don’t worry. I’m just afraid that I might trample your speaking. I would only be helping you stay on track because you certainly know the games better than I,” he said turning a side look at his very reactive brother. Jumbled purred a weird noise back to him and moved over to his games again. Line Space rolled his eyes at his brothers inability to act like a normal pony.Then again he couldn’t either and his brother was certainly better at dealing with him than the other way around. “What do you think you’re doing anyway. The new episode starts in 15 minutes and if you don’t get off soon we won’t be able to watch it together.” As he finished saying this his brother gasped and turned off the game and ran downstairs to grab snacks. Line Space went to his room and started cleaning to make room.

It was then that he made a terrible mistake by removing the clothes covering the wall mirror. That black and red face appeared grinning. “Why do we bother dealing with that nutty brother of yours seeing as he drives you crazy. He’s only going to pause the episode and bother us with all those random thoughts,” he said angrily. The young colt glared at the mirror and responded with “I enjoy those discussions and you stay quiet. I don’t need you threatening him.”

“Be careful. Keep getting worked up like this and my threats won’t be so idle,” the face replied chuckling. The colt’s eyes went wide and he ran to his computer having not realized how mad he was at the face and his class and everypony else. “Yes,Yes, let me out just let your anger out!” the face yelled at him passionately. Then winter wrap up started playing and the colt let the music soothed his nerves nerves and made the face shut up, grumbling angrily.

Jumbled came trotting in and started singing the song loudly, making Line Space grate his teeth at his brother’s tone deafness. While his brother got an area clear for a chair where he could sit he got the new episode ready and loading. The two of them chatted excitedly over the title and started discussing what it could mean. Then they heard sound from the computer and they both leaned forward to start watching “Too Many Pinky Pies”.

……

The end credits were rolling and jumbled thought was still laughing at Pinky’s antics during the episode. The face in the mirror and Line Space sat stunned. The episode was amazing and definitely some of the hows best comedic writing. The face was babbling something about story or character but Line Space had stopped paying attention to that a long time ago. He looked at the face and it scowled back. There isn’t enough room for two in his head but if there were more of him….

“ Jumbled, when did you say you were going to see Zeckora.”