//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Jonathan Apple // by GamingWolf //------------------------------// "How did this happen? He was perfectly fine a week ago?" "If it is what we think it is, the infection takes about a week for symptoms to show. In order to be absolutely certain we are going to need a bone sample." "No… no…" "Jonathan!" "Aahhh!" Jonathan sits up screaming in bed. "What's wrong?" Jonathan pants heavily as his heart slams against his chest. He stares into the large pair of violet eyes full of concern. He swallows the lump in his throat. It takes him a moment to process his situation. Right… not dead. "Bad dream," Jonathan manages to squeak out. Jonagold pulls her brother in close for an embrace. She feels him turn rigid. He pushes away from her after a few seconds. "Thanks. I'm fine." "Oh. Okay." Jonagold gets off the bed and walks to the bedroom door, "Don't forget—school starts in an hour." Jonathan reads the clock on the right side of the bed. 9 o'clock. "Yippee," he drolls. Jonagold giggles and leaves the room. Jonathan's past week had presented him with many challenges and changes. Going number two had to be—by far—the most embarrassing lesson to learn. He sticks out his tongue in disgust as he remembers his folly. He also had spent the week learning the homestead and his chores. Learning how to write still takes some practice for him. The whole using his mouth to write did not feel natural for him so he sticks with holding the pencil with his fetlock. He also notices the ability to "grip" the pencil with his hoof strengthening. A new cousin also moves in, Braeburn. Jonathan does not really pay much attention to the golden colt. The colt is just like any other kid to Jonathan: annoying and a headache. In under an hour he will be stuck in a building full of others like Braeburn? Joy of joys. Cool water washes over Jonathan's multi-color, patchy body as he showers. Hands. Is it too much to ask for them? Or to have reincarnated as a unicorn? Yes? Okay. As much as Jonathan loathes having to be with children, he is going to school, a place of learning. He likes to learn. Granted, everything will be a breeze for someone with five Master's degrees, but still, Jonathan likes to keep his mind open to learn new things. He steps out of the shower. As he dries himself awkwardly off, he can not help but think of all the things in this world that seem more ergonomic for humans than ponies. For example, the knobs for the shower or sink or door knobs, for that matter, are made for grasping. With a snap of his tail (which makes him smile a little) he is dry and steps out off the bathroom and sees Braeburn. "Good morning!" Braeburn greets warmly with a smile. "Morning," Jonathan replies aloof and walks past the colt. Braeburn's smile wavers. He trots up to the pinto colt. "Excited for school?" "Yes. I can barely contain myself," Jonathan snarks and rolls his eyes. Braeburn chuckles. "So I can see. Do you remember what school was like here? School back on the frontier of Dodge Junction was boring, to say the least." "Nope. I reckon it'll be the same," Jonathan musters his best drawl. "Heh. Well, I 'reckon' we'll find out soon enough!" Braeburn smiles. Jonathan groans inwardly. This happy-go-lucky pony starts grating on the nerves quickly. The two colts enter the kitchen and see Jonagold walking from the stove to the dining table with two plates on her back each with two slices of French toast, scrambled eggs, and hash browns. Jonathan has to admit the food over here tastes much better. Is it because he is a herbivore now? He shrugs his shoulders and hops up to sit at the table. "Morning, Jonagold. Thanks for breakfast," Jonathan greets his sister. The young mare smiles at her brother and at Braeburn she greets, "Good morning, Braeburn." "Good morning, Jonagold!" He looks down at the plate of food Jonagold places in front of him and inhales the scent of the food deeply. "My oh my! This smells absolutely scrumptious!" Jonathan rolls his eyes and continues eating his food. "How are you this morning?" he asks his sister as she sits at the table to eat. "What are these? I've never seen them before," Braeburn says out loud as he jabs a fork in a slice of toast to fork into his mouth. "Those are called—" "Sweet Celestia!" Braeburn's exclamation interrupts Jonagold. "Whatever these are they sure are good!" "They are called—" "Mmmmmm! Mm!" Braeburn interjects as he takes another bite of French toast. "Is that eggs mixed in with the bread?" "Well, yes. That's because they're—" "Oh boy! Is that cinnamon!" "Yes. Fr—" "Golly! And nutmeg—Ow!" A fork clatters to the wooden floor. "Shut the Hell up so she can tell you what they are, you obnoxious shit!" Jonathan shouts. Braeburn rubs his forehead and stares at the angry looking pinto in disbelief. Jonagold also gawks at her brother. "Jonathan! Watch your tongue!" Jonagold chastise her brother. Jonathan snorts and hops off the chair. "Thanks for breakfast," he drones and gathers his plate in his mouth to take to the sink. The only sound in the house is the clattering dishes and of the front door closing a moment later. Jonathan huffs. He stops at the chickens to watch them peck at the ground. He sighs as he reflects upon his actions. He let his temper get the better of him—again. He snorts again when thoughts of the anger management group pop up. He decides a walk through the orchard will help him calm down. The wind rustles the vibrant green leaves of the apple trees and they tickle the developing fruit clinging to the branches. He kicks something on the ground; he cranes his neck down to see a few rotten apples on the grass. He picks one up in his white hoof to inspect it. The apple loses his interest as he releases the fruit to let it drop to the ground. His attention hones in on his hoof as he flexes the appendage like a hand. A pressure builds in his frog as he "clenches" his hoof. "Magic?" he mumbles to himself. Jonathan closes his eyes and stays as still as a statue with all four hooves on the ground. He places himself in a meditative trance and begins to feel the same "pressure" from his hoof tingle his entire body. He opens his eyes and exhales. The world around him returns to the bright scenery. For a split second before opening his eyes, he is almost certain he saw the world as a black void with the trees and grass sending out vibrations that ripple like white waves. Seeing the darkness had made him uneasy. He decides to head to school to get it over with.