//------------------------------// // Part 2 - The Book // Story: Applejack's Day Off // by 1Bit //------------------------------// Applejack twisted and turned in her bed, wearily looking up at the clock to see the hands move painfully slowly. She let out a sigh of frustration; it had only been two or three hours since she'd been back on the farm, yet she was already finding the day insufferable. She had already made multiple attempts to escape out onto the orchard, to little success. The first time, she waited until she believed everypony had gone to begin the harvest. She slowly got out of her bed, making sure to gently bring her bandaged leg to the floor silently. She'd crept up to the door and allowed it to gradually open out onto the hallway. She popped her head out to make sure the coast was clear. There wasn't a pony in sight...well, unless you counted the small filly hiding behind the door ready and waiting for Applejack to try and get out. So much for that plan. Another half an hour had passed before she'd attempted a second escape plan. This time, she heaved and tugged at the small window in her room until it finally creaked open. After tying pillows around her injured leg to protect it, she pulled herself out onto the window ledge and let herself drop onto the ground. That is, if it wasn't for the large trampoline that came up to greet her as she fell. All she heard was a simple "Nope" before Applejack was flung back up through her window landing in a confused mess on her bedroom floor. She was on the brink of giving up all together until, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the small trap door, partially hidden by the worn red carpet on the floor. Applejack couldn't get the wicked grin off her face as she threw the carpet back and opened the small hatch. She looked down into the family kitchen, memories of when she was younger flooding back. She lowered herself through the hole, landing onto the kitchen table. She winced as she landed roughly on her injured leg. She allowed herself a celebratory moment, beaming that she remembered the trap door at all. She began to trot out into the hallway, her hooves causing the old floorboards to creak and groan with every step she took. She moved like a ghost through the hallway, checking that nopony had cottoned on to her escape yet. Finally Applejack raised her hoof to open the door Finally free... "Ah always had a suspicion those apple fritters didn't just disappear from the kitchen table all on their lonesome" Applejack stopped dead in her tracks, slowly turning to face a rather angry-looking Granny Smith staring at Applejack from across the hall. Applejack gave a nervous grin "Well uh- heh...funny you should bring that up b-but as much as ah'd love to stay and...ch-chat, plenty of work to be done!" Applejack reached for the door again. "Listen here young'un! We're not trying to annoy ya or bore ya by keeping ya locked up in here. It's just what's best for you." "And how would ya know what's best fer me?" Applejack counteracted in a raised voice "It's just a lil' injury and all of a sudden, ah can't help out in the orchards? Ah may not be at mah best but it doesn't mean ah can't lend a helpin' hoof!" She tried hard not to cry out in pain as she bumped her bandaged leg into the wall. "Ugh It's not like ya know what it's like to be stuck in a room doing nothin' at a time like this..." "Now you hold yer tongue right there, missy. We're yer family and we know what's best fer ya. So did the doctor and he said you gotta rest. So get yer flank upstairs, honey. This ain't a battle worth fightin'...believe me..." Applejack opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words so instead lowered her head in defeat and walked back up the stairs. Granny watched her go with tired eyes and let out a deep sigh. "Believe me...ah know." Applejack sat up in bed her hooves crossed over her chest, a sour expression on her lips. She lifted her head up, taking a minute to examine her surroundings. When it came to decor, the Apple family kept things simple. Applejack's room contained little more than the necessities. She eyed the bookshelf and lifted herself out of bed Might as well find somethin' to pass the time she thought, rummaging through the books on the shelves. Seriously? Not a single good book? This whole darn bookshelf doesn't have anythin' worth readin'? She scanned each book in turn before stumbling across a thick black book, with gold letters proudly displaying the title. Fifty Shades Of Hay? What in the hay kinda book is that? She fumbled around with her hooves trying to grab it for a closer inspection, carefully lifting it out of it's place. Before she studied the book in question, a glint of light caught her eye and she turned to see a much smaller book hidden behind the others. Her curiosity compelled her, moving other books out the way as she tentatively reached a hoof out to the book. She sat down on her bed, carefully blowing onto the front cover sending up a cloud of dust into the air. She narrowed her eyes, trying to make out the title. Hang on one lick-pickin' minute. I seen this somewhere before Applejack raised a hoof to her chin until suddenly it all clicked. Of course! Granny's diary. Ah remember her grabbin' this fer the Family Appreciation Day presentation... She placed the book beside her and darted her eyes around nervously. I'm sure there are some good stories in here...wouldn't hurt to look! She scooped the book up in her hooves and began sifting through the pages, hoping to find anything that could get her mind off the boredom she was suffering from. She finally settled on an entry and began to read through the old diary.