Sorry for the delay on this chapter. On sunday, I lost my only source of income. Things have become extremely difficult. But I am looking into making writing my full time job. I may soon set up a or something similar, so that people can have the option to donate to myself so that I can keep the stories coming.

I may even have exclusive short stories for the people willing to contribute. But it's gonna take me a while before I can get anything set up. I'll keep people updated via my tumblr.

This chapter is a little shorter, but I hope you still enjoy it. Please be sure to review, and I'll make sure I have more next week!

Chapter 5: A Missed Pebble

"... ... .. .. ..."

"... ..."

"... ... ...Earth to Fear? Come in, Fear."

Fear could hear voices talking around him, but it had taken him a moment to truly translate what was being said. His eyes, which had been open but could not see, slowly returned to full function as well. The black around him gave way to a hazy image of the Synaptic Impulse's boarding area, the electric blue coaster docked like a slumbering beast in the center of the room. Two final landmarks came into view; one was the perky and powdery blue mind worker in charge of the ride, who now wore a new look of concern, the other was the glowing figure of Joy, leaned down to Fear's face with a soft and delicate hand on his wrist.

"Fear? There you are!" Joy giggled, patting his wrist as if to celebrate some accomplishment. "We lost ya for a second there. How are you feeling?"

'Humiliated' was the first word that jumped into Fear's mind, followed by a few other choice words like 'horrified', 'scarred', and 'done with rides forever'. But he couldn't voice any of these negative thoughts. He focused on Joy's shimmering blue eyes, sensing a feeling of shame somewhere in the back of her mind. Terrified that it was he whom Joy was ashamed of, he couldn't allow himself to sound upset or rude responding to the simple question.

So he forced a nervous smile and dropped his vision to the floor. "I'm f-fine!" He lied. "Just a little worn out. That was... some rush, huh? Heh..."

The mind worker, neither falling for his lies nor pretending to be fooled, clasped her hands together with unease, worried for this strange creature who had blacked out under her watch. "You really were out.." She said, watching his lavender eyes dart about, looking for any sign of injury. "Are you sure you're gonna be alright? Do you want me to call the parks Immune System outpost?"

"No no! I'm... I'm fine!" Fear immediately refused. Roller coaster failure or not, he still had an outing to finish. He had to at least TRY to save this perfect day with Joy. He was just about to stand himself up when he realized where he had been sitting; a strange, cushioned folding chair set at the rooms perimeter marked with ADRENALINE RUSH PARK on several spots. "How... Did I get over here?" He mumbled.

"We carried you over here when you actually stopped screaming." Joy blushed, trying to hold back innocent giggling to avoid upsetting Fear any further. "We figured you wouldn't want to come to and realize you were still in the ride."

Fear hung his head apologetically. "Geez, I'm sorry..." He mumbled solemnly. "I shouldn't have made you lug me around just because I stopped thinking..."

With a chuckle more resembling her attitude when they had first met her, the mind worker backed up a step and put a hand to her hip. "Oh, it was no trouble!" She smiled, trying her best to ease the nervous creatures guilt. "You're actually very light! We had no problem picking you up and moving you around."

Fear's head hung even lower. 'I was afraid of that.' He thought miserably, another instance of his inferior physical self being made painfully obvious. He closed hes eyes and let out a long sigh. He was still no closer to being that perfect male specimen, AND he had failed his plan b, having earned the pebble for completing the coaster but then having lost it right after when he blacked out. This outing, which he had meant as a way to prove himself to Joy, had made no progress whatsoever.

While his head was down and his focus elsewhere, the speckled mind worker gently took Joy's wrist in her own glittering hand and guided her a few steps away from Fear's quiet sulking, making sure they were completely outside of the lavender creatures hearing range. Joy quietly followed her lead, baffled but offering no word of hesitation or opposition.

"Are you sure you're little friend is gonna be alright?" She asked in a hushed whisper, releasing Joy's arm and guiding her confused and curious gaze back towards Fear. "I've seen people come off the coaster dazed before, but I've never seen anything like that."

Joy sighed, still studying Fear's slumped and moping posture from afar. "Yeah, he's okay." She reassured. "He sometimes goes into these panics when he's overstimulated. He doesn't really go on roller coasters much and, well, I guess the ride was just too much for him."

The mind worker shook her head with a look not unlike a concerned parental figure. "Well of course it was!" She quietly scoffed. "It's our newest and biggest attraction! Why would he choose to ride the Impulse if he knew he was afraid of thrill rides?"

The innocent question felt like a stab to Joy's heart. The shame Fear had spotted in her earlier came bubbling to the surface. "It's my fault..." Joy's somber voice had begun to waver. "I asked him to ride it with me. I just got so excited that I kind of... stopped thinking. I forgot that he probably couldn't handle it. I just wanted to share some fun with him..." The golden emotions face fell, the feeling of guilt consuming her from the inside.

Worried that she had offended or come off as judge mental, the mind worker quickly attempted to bring the conversation to a rapid end. She took an awkward step backward towards her post at the rides controls, clearing her throat with a forced cough. "Well, uh, if you're sure he's alright..." She nodded. "Just... take it easy for a while. His frayed nerves probably need a break."

Joy lifted her head, sporting a new expression of determination and dedication. "Right. Take it easy." She repeated, though the mind worker had already skittered off by now. "I can still do this."

Fear, whose thoughts had become a vortex of misery and self loathing, lifted his gaze instantly at the sound of Joy's approaching footsteps. He hadn't even noticed that she had walked off, but assumed by the standard glowing smile on her face that whatever she had done or said while absent hadn't been important.

"Come on, Fear!" She beamed, offering a hand to help him off his perch.

The skittish emotion stared nervously at Joy's palm, afraid of what terrifying adventure it had in store for him next. "C-come on where..?" He asked quietly, knowing that he would be unable to refuse no matter the plan or risk missing the chance at another pebble.

"I was thinking we could relax and cool off for a bit." Joy took his quivering hand in her own and pulled him to his feet, watching the color flood his face as it was suddenly brought so close to her own. "How about we check out that beach for a while?"

Fear smiled brightly at this idea. The beach sounded far less dangerous, and would be the perfect place for him to earn some more points. Joy, easily taking notice of his becoming more at ease, chuckled quietly and began to lead her lavender companion by the hand. Fear responded to this with his standard awkward smile, the blush in his cheeks radiating heat from his face.

As she cheerfully marched ahead, Joy unconsciously began to hum once more. She was going to prove to Fear that she could have fun without having to do something risky or overly adventurous. And, she hoped, maybe after some slow build up, she could get Fear relaxed enough to be more willing to join her on more exciting theme park rides. Her life style was just so much fun; she so badly wanted Fear to be able to experience it.

At the same time, Fear had begun to sweat. He was determined to prove his confidence and dedication to this relationship, and hoped that the beach would be just the opportunity he needed to do so.

'I can still do this.' Fear repeated internally to himself, as they passed beneath the Adrenaline Rush arch and back into Imagination Land's hub.