Chapter One: The First Entry
"Thank ya kindly for lettin' me check that book out, Twilight. It'll be mighty useful for plantin' season." Applejack said sincerely as she dropped the heavy book onto the table; the unofficial 'return box' for library books.
"It's no problem, Applejack. I'm glad I could help. If you have any questions about it, just ask away; I've read the book almost five times." Twilight said, rolling her eyes humorously at the last line.
Applejack just stared.
"What?" Twilight asked.
"Really, Twilight? You've read the Earth Pony's Almanac five times? What in tarnation would you of all ponies need to know about farmin' anyway?" Applejack asked with a serious tone that quickly changed into a humorous one.
Twilight dragged a hoof across the ground nervously and bowed her head.
"Thanks again, Twilight; I'll be back tomorrah!" Applejack called as she trotted out the door.
Twilight Sparkle grabbed the book with her magic and moved it towards the empty spot on the shelf. She absent mindedly pushed it in and then let go. She jumped a bit as she heard a thump on the floor behind her, and turned to see the large book spread open.
"Huh?" Twilight asked to nopony in particular as she picked it up again and this time watched as she tried to push the book in. But it was too big to fit in the spot it had previously fit in.
"That's strange...Wait a second..." Twilight whispered as she brought the book closer.
The Earth Pony's Almanac was a large book bound in a thick slab of cardboard wrapped in cloth. The cloth was light brown with a yellow stripe down the spine. But this wasn't the Earth Pony's Almanac. It was Applejack's personal diary, bound the same way as the book she had checked out; the only difference being the title.
"Applejack, wa-" Twilight began as she bounded out of the tree and into the dark equestrian night. But her friend was no where to be seen, and so Twilight trotted back inside.
Sighing, Twilight placed the book back on the table and went back to writing her latest friendship report.
"Dear Princess Celestia," was all she had written before her curiosity consumed her. She galloped over to Applejack's diary and then froze.
"C'mon Twilight, this is Applejack, your friend! It'd be a gross invasion of her privacy if you went sniffing through her personal book! After all, you you remember what happened last time somepony went snooping around through your stuff."
Twilight shivered at the memory of the newspaper plastered with pictures of her and columns reporting that she hated Canterlot.
"Oooh...But it's just one little peek, and It's not like I'd tell anypony..." she reassured herself before flipping the book open to the center and taking a quick peek.
Dear Diary,
Yesterday was a little different...After I was done harvesting the apples, I saw him again. Being a farmer is long, hard work and there's not much time to relax, so I've never really had a chance to get into a relationship. But boy am I in love with him. Anyways, after the sun went down and Granny Smith was asleep, I snuck out and met him in town. We just walked and talked about our lives, what we wanted out of it all and the likes. After our walk we just laid next to each other in the park, staring up at Princess Luna's beautiful night. Granny Smith always told me to keep my head in the apples; that things like this would only be a distraction that could ruin the farm, but it felt so good when he kissed me again. Before long, we saw Celestia making the morning and we both rushed home. I hope we'll do that again tomorrow.
Signin' off again for tonight,
Applejack
Twilight's thoughts raced as she took in the juicy gossip. Applejack was in love! But Granny Smith was against it, so forbidden love! She squee'd excitedly and then froze again.
Applejack said she'd be back tomorrow.
She'd have to hide the diary so she could read more and figure out who this mysterious stallion was!
