Watching the kids applebucking was fun, I just wished that I could join them. Unfortunately I was forced to listen to the longwinded Granny Smith. I had already heard her story of how she helped the foundation of Ponyville, it seemed to be the only story she had that didn't compleatly have to do with apples. I tried to make it obvious that I wasn't interested in her stories but I don't even think the old mare was pating attention to whether I was or not. In a way she reminded me alot of my grandmother, she didn't care whether you were listening or not, she just wanted someone to be there for her before she passed. She knew her time was coming, she just wanted to spend it with the people she loved the most. So I decided to humor the old bag for her own sake, after all she was a nice old mare.
Applejack approached me, I was fake laughing at what was supposed to be a humorous apple pun. I looked at her, she was waiting for Granny to finnish her story.
"We'll if yer done bondin' with yer mom we gotta git goin' to yer doctors appointment to get fitted fer some prostetic pony legs!" Applejack said excitedly, it got me excited as well.
I jumped down the three stairs and forgot I was still in a chair. I took a tumble which AJ helped me up from, she laughed.
"You ok pa?" she asked.
"Uh... ya." I said embaressed that I had looked like such a fool.
"Take care ya hear son." Granny waved me off.
I nodded, I looked into her eyes, she had the same look as when my grandmother sent me off. Usually she had an inextinguishable fire in her eyes, a will to live. But everytime she said goodbye, the fire died down a little, as if perhaps she wouldn't be there when I got back. It was the same thing she did when I was shipped out. I made a note to myself that I would hug the old bag when I got home, to my real home.
I began to walk away, then I looked back to see Granny lounging back into a chair. It really wouldn't be right if I did come back and the last thing she heard from her son was nothing. I wheeled back and up the stairs, I hugged the old bat. She was shocked at first, but then returned the embrace.
"Love you mom." I said it not because I personally ment it, but because it was what the real Buck Apple would say.
She hugged me back, "I love you too son." We broke away and I trotted off.
Applejack laughed, "What was all that about?"
"Well," I said, "you never know when your never going to see your family again." I told her, she looked confused at first but realized what I ment. She nodded.
It was a long walk to the hospital, and an even longer wait. I hated waiting rooms, nothing to do but look at old magazines and the ceiling. Personally the ceiling was actually more interesting to watch, at least I could imagine like a movie playing in my head. Magazines were just full of idle gossip and slander, apparently even in the pony world.
When the doctors called my name I was so bored I acctually didn't react, I'm still not sure if it was really boredom or just the sudden name change. Applejack had to nudge me to get into my chair and get going. As I went I saw a little light purple unicorn filly looking at me. I stopped and knelt down.
"What happened to you?" she asked.
I laughed, "Well I got hurt in a war overseas." I told her.
"My mommy is different too." she said pointing to a grey mare over by the reception table. Her eyes were in opposite directions, I thought it was strange her mother had a mental condition and yet her daughter seemed perfectly fine. The mare came over and saw me, she smiled.
"Cool chair dude." she said, I laughed, her voice was a little derpy but she seemed normal for the most part. I watched the two playing for a bit, I remembered seeing her in an episode. She was a silly little thing, btu here she didn't seem like she even had a mental condition, it was more like her personality. I had to admit it was precious, AJ nudged me to get me moving again.
I sat on the doctors examination table until he came in.
"Ok, Buck Apple." he said, "here for a prostetic fitting, huh?" he said reading a file.
"Yup." I told him.
"Got a little injury in that battle over there, huh?" he asked.
As he made measurements he wrote his results on a blank paper. After about twenty minutes he wrapped his tape up and closed my file.
"Ok, just come back in three weeks and we'll have your new legs ready for you."
"Uh, doc?" I asked.
"Yes." he replied.
"Can I make a request?" I asked.
He sat down in his stool.
"As you know I run an apple farm." I said, "Would it be possible to have them be made to help with the applebucking?"
Applejacks jaw dropped.
The doctor scratched his chin.
"I'm sure we can see what we can do, it may take a little longer." He told me.
I thanked him, he told me it may take a little longer and that he'll contact me as soon as he got them right.
As we left the hospital AJ turned to me.
"Have you gone, cattle lickin' MAD!?" she boomed.
"Why do you say that?" I asked.
"It's gunna take ferever fer them ta git legs strong enough to buck a tree fer apples." Applejack said.
"Listen, I don't want to be stuck on a porch the rest of my life." I told her. I turned and began walking.
"Dad," she said, I turned around, "Ah understand yer mad about loosin yer legs, hay I'd probably go crazy without Bucky and Kicks muhself." she said, "But ya cain't go on in a wheelchair fer much longer, things'll get... complicated." she said.
I realized that she was right, but I had to persist.
"If anypony's going to make adjustments it's me." I said.
Her emerald eyes that reminded me so much of myown daughters looked at me, I smiled. She nodded.
We got back to the farm, Applejack attempted to help me up the stairs but I swipped her hoof away. After such a long walk it was a little more of a struggle than usual. The family watched as I panted at the top of the three stairs, they all looked at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Dad," Applejack said, "ya'll know yer rooms on the second floor right?"
I grumbled about sleeping on the couch as I went over and plopped down on the lumpy sofa.
It was getting late, AJ brought me out dinner. Salad, and fruit. I was a little questioning of why there was no meat, but then I realized, ponies don't eat meat. I began to eat and realized, for some reason this was better than any steak I'd ever had. It was probably the pony taste buds.
After dinner I pulled a blanket over myself and snuggled into bed.
"Dad?" I heard Apple Bloom behind me. I turned around to face the pale yellow filly, she jumped up and threw her hooves around my neck, "I'm glad yer finally home dad." she told me, "Even if mom's not comin' back."
I put a hoof on her back to comfort her, what was one supposed to say in times like this.
"Don't worry honey, you'll see her again." She looked at me teary eyed, "Maybe not soon, but one day you'll see her again, ok?" It seemed to calm her down a little.
She gave me a weak but brave smile.
She trotted off to her room, she looked back and told me, "I love you daddy."
I smiled, this world wasn't so bad, "Love you too sweetie" I found myself saying.
It was strange, I didn't feel awkward saying it to her, if anything it was as if I was talking to my real daughter. Like anyother night when I told her goodnight. I shook the feeling away and settled into bed.
I was a human again, back home. But was I really or was I just dreaming. I couldn't tell, I was in an all white room, on the other side facing the opposite wall was a colt. Well it was the body I hosted, I walked over.
"Heya stranger." his country accent was thick.
"Uh, Buck Apple I assume?" I asked him, he nodded.
"And you must be James Johnson." He replied. I nodded this time.
"So... uh, what are you doing here?", he looked aff into space.
"Talkin' to muh wife." he said.
"I don't get it." I asked.
"Listen somehow we got crossed," he said getting straight to the point, "this is the only way we can communicate, probably the only time. Let's make use of the time we have, what's goin' on on my side?" he asked.
"No, you first, I want to know how my girls are doing!" I demanded.
"Listen!" he said, "We may not have all that much ti-"
We were inturupted by the sound of a rooster crowing.
I woke up suddenly back in my pony body. I looked at my stubbs, for a few brief minutes I was walking again. What was up with the other side though, it seemed our worlds were entangled in the same reality, only... different species of creatures. there were too many questions and not enough answers.
My stomach growled, I couldn't find answers on an empty stomach. I had to find this Twilight Sparkle and get some answers, but first things first. Breakfast!