//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Jonathan Apple // by GamingWolf //------------------------------// The clock tower tolls the half hour as Jonathan crests a hill that overlooks Ponyville. "Good morning, Jonathan!" Big Mac greets from behind. Jonathan sighs inwardly. "Morning, Big Mac," he replies without taking his eyes off the town. The red colt's smiling face enters Jonathan's vision a moment later. "Is something the matter?" Jonathan looks up at the red colt. "Nothing. Do you think a tiger can change their stripes?" Big Mac's face twists into a contemplative countenance. "I don't know much about tigers or animals for that matter," he says after a moment of deep thinking. "I guess it all depends if the tiger is willing to change," Jonathan sighs. He begins to walk down the hill. "Anything new with you?" Jonathan tries to make idle conversation. "Nnnope. Well, there's a family of vampire fruit bats giving us trouble. With Apple Bucking Day around the corner, I'm afraid there won't be any apples to buck," Big Mac shares. "'Vampire fruit bats?'" "Eeyup. They go around sucking the juice out of apples. The apples may look ripe until you buck them and they splat on the ground." "How do you usually get rid of them?" "Set up traps and when too many of them get caught the rest fly away." "Hmm," Jonathan hums. With the apple yield already low something must be done about the bats. On the way to school, Big Mac talks about different topics that pop into his head, mostly about Sweet Apple Acres and Jonathan absently grunts a response when appropriate. His thoughts disappear when a voice calls out his name. "Is that Jonathan Apple?" a young female voice calls out from the right. When Jonathan looks he sees two identical cerise fillies walking up to him. "I think so," the one on the right says. "Wow! You woke up!" the one on the left exclaims. "Not by choice," Jonathan remarks. The two fillies exchange a look. The one on the left laughs. "Big Mac, who are they?" Jonathan leans closer to the colt to whisper in his ear. "I know we didn't talk much but don't you think it's kinda rude to not know your classmates?" the filly on the left says. "It isn't his fault, Cherry Blossom," Big Mac replies, "Jonathan has memory loss." "Does that mean I'll be the smart one in class again?" the filly on the right jabs. "Unlikely," Jonathan retorts with a smug grin. "Yeah. Since when were you ever the 'smart one,' Cheerilee?" Cherry Blossom cracks, which earns her a glare from her twin. "Hmph! Anyways!" Cheerilee pushes pass her sister and steps closer to Jonathan. "It's good to see you again, Jonathan and sorry about your parents," Cheerilee says and places a hoof on the pinto's left shoulder patch of brown. "Thanks," Jonathan replies lamely and pushes the filly's hoof off him. The three watch as the pinto walks away and heads inside the schoolhouse. "Probably best not to bring that up," Big Mac whispers to the twins and trots after his cousin. "I couldn't imagine losing mom and dad," Cheerilee confides to her sister. Cherry Blossom watches as Jonathan disappears into the schoolhouse. "Yeah. . ." Jonathan walks down the hallway searching for the room with the daffodil. He stops at a doorway with daffodils decorating the sills where a tan stallion fills the doorway. His steely eyes are bordered with blue-framed glasses and his dark brown mane stops above the glasses. He smiles down at Jonathan. "Do my eyes fool me? Jonathan Apple?" the stallion questions. "Stonewall Smith?" Jonathan retorts. "Why, yes, yes I am," the stallion beams. "What kind of teacher are you?" "The best kind!" "What subject do you teach?" Jonathan clarifies with a flat expression. "I am your primary skills teacher. I will teach you math, science, history, language arts, and the basics of magic." "What do you know about vampire fruit bats?" "Not much, I am afraid," Stonewall Smith admits. "Then you are of little use to me," Jonathan says as he pushes past the stallion to enter the classroom. Oh boy. He's one of those students. Stonewall Smith watches as the colt makes his way to the centermost front row seat. He smiles. "Good morning, Mister Smith," a familiar colt's voice greets. "Come on in, Big Mac!" Stonewall Smith moves out of the doorway. "Sweet Celestia, son! You are going to be taller than me by next year!" Big Mac grins from ear to ear, "If you say so, Mister Smith." "Good morning, Mister Smith!" "Well, hello there, Miss Cheerilee!" the stallion shakes the cerise filly's hoof, "How is my little teacher-in-training?" "Absolutely splendid! I already have this year's lesson plans in order!" She reaches into the saddle bag on the right to pull out a brown accordion folder full of papers with her mouth. "Oh! Well then. . .," Mister Smith accepts the folder, "Thank you, Miss Cheerilee." "My pleasure, Mister Smith!" the filly beams and skips into the classroom. A forceful pair of hooves brings his face down to gaze into the stern, pale green eyes of Cherry Blossom, "I will be keeping my eyes on you. Do I need to remind you about the laws?" Mister Smith chuckles and gently pries the filly off. "I assure you, Miss Blossom, I am not after your sister or any other filly." "Good. Keep it that way," Cherry Blossom scowls at him and takes a seat next to her sister. She levels her right hoof to her eyes and points it at him. Ah, foals, so precious, Stonewall Smith thinks affectionately. The school bell rings just as the last colt enters passes by him. What does this school year have in store?