XCOM 2, Applejack's Story

Applebloom yawned as she got out of bed. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and smacked her lips. She stumbled, drowsy, to her closet. Opening it she picked out her bow. She glanced to the side. Hanging on a hook was her sister's hat. She sighed. It had been more than a year and a half since Applejack went missing, leaving only her hat. She still remembered that dreadful day clearly.

Applejack didn't show up for breakfast one day. Thinking she somehow slept through her alarm, Applebloom was sent to wake her up. Much to her surprise and horror, she found and empty bed with Applejack's hat on the pillow. She would never leave without her hat. The day quickly turned into a panicky search for the missing pony, which eventually involved the entire town. After month of searching the surrounding area of Ponyville with no sign of her, the search turned country-wide. After another month of searching with no clues of her whereabouts, in turned into a world wide search. All the countries of Equis searched for the lost hero to no avail. Even Discord helped. After a half a year of following all possible leads, from kidnapping to being lost on a deserted island, Applejack was sadly declared dead by the Princesses. Her closest friends and family were devastated. A modest memorial was constructed in Ponyville.

Applebloom didn't believe Applejack was dead. She knew deep down in her heart that her sister was alive somewhere. For a while, at least. After a year and a half, her faith started to waver. Maybe Applejack really was dead. Today was the day her faith broke. She promised herself that she wouldn't wear her sister's hat as long as she believed Applejack was alive. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes as she traded her bow for Applejack's hat.

Numbly she went through her morning routine, just as she had during the first few weeks of Applejack's disappearance. As she went down the stairs for breakfast, her remaining family noticed Applebloom wearing the hat. They knew what this meant. Big Mac and Granny Smith hugged her, but she didn't cry. She was too tired for that. They ate their meal in silence. Big Mac and Applebloom then went out to do their duties to the farm. It was near lunch when Applebloom found herself not focusing. She turned away from her job and wandered around the apple orchard.

As she walked in silence a loud bang made her jump. This was followed by a swirling-swishing noise behind her. She turned around and blinked at what she saw. She knew a portal when she saw one, and one was before her. It was a purple vortex that glowed. Applebloom trotted and hid behind a tree. She stared at it for a while before seeing something she couldn't believe. The tip of an orange, armor-clad hoof poked out near the bottom. More and more of the hooves owner came through the portal. Applebloom's jaw dropped as Applejack stepped out of the portal. She looked around with a small smile on her face. She raised a hoof near her ear.

"This is th' place. Ah'm home. Y'all can close th' portal now," Applebloom shuddered at the voice that she didn't hear for almost two years. Her sister had returned.

There was a sucking sound as the portal disappeared with a pop. Applejack looked around once more and turned to leave. Applebloom, not wanting to loose sight of her sister stepped out from behind the tree. "A-Applejack?"

Applejack spun around. When she saw Applebloom and huge smile broke out on her face, "Applebloom!" she dashed and scooped up Applebloom in her fore legs in a hug. Applebloom stared blankly ahead before the waterworks started. She let out choked sobs as she hugged Applejack tightly. Applejack rubbed her little sister's back, "Shh, it's okay. A'hm here. A'hm back."

Applebloom somehow hugged her sister even tighter, "Ah m-missed ya so much!" she said between sobs.

"Don't worry ya pretty little head. Ah ain't planning on disappearin' again," Applejack replied.

They sat there hugging each other for a while before Applebloom sniffled, "Ah...Ah think A'hm okay now,"

They broke the hug. Applejack looked down at Applebloom with a smile, "Ah missed ya too. Ah missed everyone,"

Applebloom tilted her head, "'Everyone'?"

Applejack chuckled and looked away, "Oops, heh heh. Guessed Ah picked up a few things while Ah was away,"

Applebloom wiped her eyes and sniffled again, "Where were ya?"

Applejack froze and had a faraway look in her eyes for a moment, "Ah'll tell ya' when everyone- everypony is here,"

It was this moment she took a better look at Applejack. She wore what looked like armor. It was orange like her fur. Her Cutie Marks was painted on her armored flanks. There was an insignia on the chest plate. It was a polygon with stars and a globe. The words "Semper Veritatem"was at the top. She had no idea what they meant. The emblem had her Cutie Mark on it.

Only her head and tail were uncovered. The joints were covered in a rubber-like sleeve. Applebloom's engineering side also noted with interest that there was what looked like structural support beams for her legs that connected to Applejack's back. They whirred with the sound of machinery whenever she moved her limbs. Attached to her side was what looked like a crossbow, but the two prongs were vertical rather than horizontal. There didn't looking to be any thing resembling a crossbow bolt in it, so she guessed it was unloaded. Oddly, there didn't appear to be a string. On one of her fore legs was a series of buttons, their purposes unknown. What looked like a helmet was clipped to her side. The helmet covered her entire head leaving only a see-through visor and holes for her ears. Applebloom glanced at her ears. One of them had a hole in it.

As Applebloom looked at her sister's face, she noticed with mild horror there was a horrible scar on her cheek. The skin there was so thin looking that Applebloom could easily see her cheekbone. The flesh looked molted and bumpy, not one would see if it was a bladed weapon was the cause. It had a pink tint to it. There was another one, jagged, that ran across her nose and mouth. She drew her eyes away to see Applejack looking at her sadly.

"Ah see ya noticed mah scars," Applejack's ears folded back and she looked down at the ground, "Tygan said th' fur on mah cheek can't grow back 'cause th' wound is too deep."

"Ho-how'd ya get it?" asked Applebloom.

"Ah'll tell ya later, but th' story ain't pretty,"

Silence reigned between them for a moment. Applejack suddenly turned away from Applebloom, but beckoned her to follow her, "We better go an' tell everyb- pony that Ah'm back," Applejack stopped and turned her head to look at Applebloom, "Is Granny Smith...is she still alive?"

Applebloom nodded, "She's jus' sad. We all are,"

Applejack winced, "...sorry. Ah tried to get home as soon as Ah could, but Ah had to help some folks who helped me,"

The two stayed silent as they walked home. Applebloom guessed it was about lunch time so she suggested that they go to the house first. Applejack agreed.

When they got there, Applebloom ran ahead. Just as she reached the front porch, the door opened. Big Mac walked out with a frown an his face.

"Applebloom, where ya'll been? Ah was just about to search for ya. Ya scared Granny. We thought we lost another family member,"

"Now don't ya'll be too hard on th' filly,"

Big Mac's heart stopped when he heard that voice. He knew that voice and who it belonged to, but that was impossible. She was gone, they had looked everywhere for her. He slowly lifted his head to see a pony trotting up the road. His heart resumed beating as the pony drew closer, "A-Applejack?"

Applejack stopped a few paces from the porch, "Th' one an' only,"

Big Mac shook his head, "No...Applejack is gone," he slid into a fighting position, "You must be a changeling,"

Applejack frowned and raised an eyebrow. "No, Ah'm not a changeling. Ah'm no Faceless either,"

Big Mac didn't know what a 'Faceless' was and he couldn't worry about it now, "Ah'm giving ya one last chance to get off mah property,"

Applejack stared impassively at her brother for a moment before speaking, "Ya still have Twilight's doll?"

Big Mac's eyes widened and he stepped back, "W-what?"

"Ya'll still have her doll, don't ya? Th' one where you sleep with sometimes?"

Big Mac blanched and Applebloom suppressed a giggle. He shook his head. While not as good as Applejack, he could still easily spot lies, "Look me in th' eyes and say you're her,"

Applejack took a step forward and looked him in the eyes. "Ah. Am. Applejack."

He saw no lie in her eyes. What he saw was the truth. Applejack's truth. Along with it he saw the familiarity in her eyes. Either she was an extremely good liar or...it really was Applejack. "Y-yer back..."

Applejack smiled, "Ah'm back,"

Big Mac shakily came down the porch stairs and hugged her. Even her hugs were the same. "Ya really her,"

"'course Ah am. No one could keep me from my family,"

The porch door opened and Granny Smith hobbled out, "Whut's all th' ruckus about? Who's that?" Granny squinted her eyes then had they grew large, "Applejack...is that you?"

Big Mac and Applejack pulled away from their hug and Applejack took a step forward with tears in her eyes. She ascended the stairs slowly and came to Granny, "It's really me," they hugged and Applejack let out a sob, "Ah thought Ah'd never see ya again,"

Granny was crying also, "An' Ah thought Ah'd never see YOU again," eventually they pulled away and Granny opened the door, "Ya'll must be starving. Come on in an eat. Ya can tell us what happened,"

Applejack stopped, "Can Ah have mah friends here? Ah really miss them,"

Granny nodded, "Of 'course ya can. Applebloom, can ya go and gather Applejack's friends? Applejack'll likely get swarmed as soon as she steps into town. Tell 'em we have a surprise for them,"

Applebloom nodded and rushed down the road. The rest of the Apple family went inside. Granny Smith eyed Applejack, "That's some fancy lookin' clothes ya got there,"

Applejack looked down at her, suddenly self conscious, "This? This is mah armor,"

"Armor? What in th' heavens would ya'll need armor for?"

"To protect me when Ah'd go on field operations,"

Granny tilted her head, "'Field operations'? Whut's that?"

Applejack blinked, "Let's say Ah had a job while Ah was away..."

Granny nodded and smiled, "Well, it's nice ya had some farmin' work for ya. Still don't know why ya had to have armor to farm,"

Applejack chuckled nervously, "Heh heh, yeah..." A sideways glance showed Big Mac looking at her with a eyebrow raised.

It was then Applejack realized something: they were all so innocent. None of her friends and family had killed or even saw something else kill another living thing. Killing was unheard of in Equestria, not even the lowest of criminals would do that horrible deed. Applejack, though, had. Applejack knew she should still feel remorse for killing another thing. But with the things she fought, she found no remorse inside her. Applejack looked to her bolt caster. Her biggest fear was being cast out after they learned what she did. She prayed to Celestia and God that they didn't.

Granny went into the kitchen. Big Mac cleared his throat, "Why don't ya take that armor off?"

Applejack chuckled, this time she wasn't nervous. "Ah kinda wanted to show Rainbow Dash. Plus it takes a while to put it on,"

Applejack didn't exactly know how her friends would react to seeing her again after so long. They could either be hostile and distrustful like Big Mac had been, or they could be accepting like Applebloom and Granny Smith. She moved to the window and waited. It wasn't too long before she could see a group of ponies coming up the path. She moved away from the window double and double checked to see if her weapon system was offline. After seeing that it was, she turned to the door just to see it open.

Applebloom was the first through the door, and quickly made her way to her big sister. The first one was Twilight Sparkle. Almost immediately she saw Applejack and just stopped. Her eyes grew large and her jaw dropped. Behind her the hoof steps stopped. "Uh, Twi? You're kind of holding up the road," Rainbow Dash, her voice unmistakable.

"Apuljak," Twilight mumbled.

"What was that?" said Rainbow Dash.

Louder, Twilight stuttered, "A-A-Applejack,"

"Huh?" Rainbow peered over Twilight's shoulder and she too had her jaw drop and eyes grow large.

"Whoisit? Whoisit?" Pinkie Pie's head appeared over Rainbow Dash's somehow and the smile that adorned her face threatened to split it in two. She squealed and slid around Twilight, who was still standing dumbstruck, and zoomed towards Applejack.

The Sectopod fired its cannon at her, obliterating anything that it hit. Applejack dove to the side with a yell and Pinkie Pie zoomed past her, hitting the wall with a loud smack.

Applejack blinked as she remembered that she was home now. There was no Sectopod. As Pinkie literally peeled herself off the wall, Applejack scratched the back of her head and chuckled. "Sorry 'bout that. Reflex, heh heh,"

Pinkie Pie shook her head and giggled, "I knew you came back! My Pinkie Sense told my that someone I knew would arrive here,"

Pinkie Pie hugged her so tightly that Applejack could feel it through her armor. As they broke the hug Twilight gained some of her cognitive functions back and spoke, "H-how?"

"Hmm?" Applejack turned toward Twilight with a smile.

"H-how are you back? We searched everywhere on the planet. I couldn't find you. Celestia an Luna couldn't find you. Discord couldn't find you!"

"...it's because Ah wasn't on Equis."

Twilight's eyes bugged out, "N-not on Equis..."

"Uh, Twi? Ah think ya should let th' others in."

Twilight moved to the side of the door way, never taking her eyes off of Applejack. This would've been creepy under normal circumstances. The ponies outside slowly filed inside of the house, all staring at Applejack. Spike had joined them. An uncomfortable silence reigned and Applejack struggle for something to say. But what could you say to your friends after being missing for a year and a half?

Pinkie Pie solved this problem, "GROUP HUG!"

Almost like a light being turned on they all swarmed Applejack in what would have been a bone-crushing hug if not for her armor. Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy all cried. Even Rainbow Dash had tears in her eyes, though she wouldn't let them fall. After a tender moment they broke away.

Rainbow Dash spoke first, "What's that you're wearing? Some sort of robo-suit?"

Applejack laughed, "Yeah, ya could say it is,"

"Where'd ya get it?"

"She can tell ya over lunch; it's ready," said Granny Smith.

At that Applejack's stomach grumbled, "Oops, heh heh, Ah didn't have breakfast,"

"All th' more reason to come eat!"

They all started to move to the kitchen when there was a knock on the door.

"Ah'll get it," said Applebloom. She trotted to the door and opened it. She was greeted with the white furred chest of none other than Princess Celestia. Princess Luna was behind her, as where two of their each respected guards. Applebloom stepped back and shakily bowed.

Princess Celestia smiled, "Please, rise,"

That was when Princess Luna strode into the room, making a beeline towards Applejack. Luna's commanding presence reminded Applejack of staring down a Berserker. The Berserker roared as it punched Applejack. Even with her armor, her ribs shattered as the pony was sent flying back.

Applejack blinked and shook that memory away. She swallowed as Luna's horn glowed. A ray of dark blue light washed over her for a few moment. Her horn stopped glowing and the light vanished. Luna was seemingly satisfied with what ever she had done.

"Uh, yer majesty, if Ah may ask, what was that?"

"I wanted to confirm that you were indeed the real Applejack. You are." said Luna.

Applejack nodded, understanding. "Um, why are y'all here?"

Princess Celestia decided to answer that question, "We came her because we both sensed a piercing of the Veil Between Worlds,"

Luna continued Celestia's line of thought, "At first we thought it was an opening leading to the Golden Fields, but realized it led somewhere we did not recognized,"

"It only opened for only a few moment, but we were able to tell its location. I'm guessing that was you arriving back home?"

Applejack nodded, "Ya'll don' seem too surprised of me suddenly being back home,"

Celestia smiled, "We've had a lot of surprises in our life time. It's good to have you back, Applejack,"

"It's good to be back, your Highness. If ya'll excuse me, Ah'm gonna take off my armor," with that said, Applejack pressed one of the buttons on her leg twice.

The armatures let out a click and disengaged from each other. First came the removal of her fore leg armor. With a hiss of air being released the back of the armor plating came apart. She removed the coverings and placed them next to her sword and helmet. She repeated this process for the back legs. She then removed the joint coverings. Her body armor came next. With more hisses the underside of it came apart, "Uh, can one of ya'll give me a hand?"

A violet glow surround the body armor and was gently lifted off of Applejack. Twilight almost dropped the armor at what laid underneath. Her chest area was covered in indentations in the flesh. Some were worryingly deep, others were barely noticeable depressions in her skin. The flesh around them was warped and pink. No fur grew where she had the scars. The rest of her body was covered in numerous scars of cuts and scrapes.

Her friends and family reactions were varied. Her friends gasped, some of them putting of hoof to their mouths. Big Mac had a grimace on his face, and Applebloom's eyes were wide. Granny Smith was greener than usual. Princess Luna raised an eyebrow, and Princess Celestia and a small frown on her face. Spike fainted.

Applejack shrunk back at the reactions. Looking down she said, "Oh yeah...those..." an uncomfortable silence prevailed for a few moments before Applejack spoke again, tears in her eyes. "G-guys, it's still me...Ah'm still Applejack..." No you're not.

Pinkie Pie moved first. She wrapped her legs around Applejack, "Bad things happened to you, didn't they?" she said softly. Visions of gunfire and screams. Visions of horrible monsters and horrible deeds. Visions of violent deaths and the loss of friends. Applejack broke down. She wailed into Pinkie's shoulder, scarred shoulders heaving with each sob. Applebloom went up and hugged Applejack. Big Mac and Granny Smith joined next. One by one her friends joined in, trying the comfort the crying pony.

Applejack eventually recovered enough to speak, "Ah think A'm okay now guys. Thanks for that," they parted as Applejack's stomach rumbled, "Don't know about y'all, but Ah'm starving."

They meandered to the kitchen, where the food was already set up. They all sat down and began to eat. Applejack and Rainbow Dash wolfed their meals down. They ate in relative silence before Princess Celestia broke it, "I'm curious to where you went, Applejack. And how you received such...wounds,"

Applejack swallowed her bite before speaking, "Okay. Don't know where else to start but at the beginning,"

And then Applejack told her story...