The Aftermath (A WarAU)

AppleJack

As expected, she was an incredible fighter. Her initial appointment was as an engineer but as the battle of Canterlot was at its height, it wasn’t hole digging and cannon preparation that they needed, it was more bodies to throw at the enemy. After being a mediocre engineer, AppleJack showed her true strength as she kicked enemy heads clean off their shoulders. AppleJack was a tank among glass vases. The only thing that stopped her was the blast. She was completely engrossed in bludgeoning an enemy with her two forehooves to get out of the way. The blast caught her back legs as she reared up for another skull-crushing stamp, taking her legs off clean from underneath her. She fell to the ground instantly. She was kept awake by the shock but spared the pain thanks to adrenaline. It was thanks to Rainbow Dash snatching her off the field and to a medical unit that AppleJack lived. She was only fighting for 15 minutes.

After the war was won, AppleJack became a spokespony for the Canterlot military, her story of heroism becoming exaggerated with each retelling to foals and fillies. While she was no doubt a great soldier, she had not continued to fight with no back legs as she went on to claim. It seemed her pride overtook her element. She inspired many to join the cause while she wallowed in guilt at her family farm with only her little sister to keep her company, a sister who couldn’t wait to fight like her idol. She wore prosthetic back legs for the rest of her life, springs and pistons allowed her to have an even more powerful kick than her old legs had had. She worked harder on the farm alone than all her family combined ever could’ve.