Author's note: I don't own anything but the plot. And Celestia is not going to be in the story.

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Long ago, in the beautiful land of Equestria, the ponies live in harmony until an evil centaur threatens to rid the ponies of their magic and to take over the kingdom. He does not stop until a brave and strong Earth Pony rises to defeat him. The heroine's name is Apple Jack... Apple Jack has saved the land, and brought back harmony. It is that she has mysteriously disappeared after the return of harmony.

Ponies that are dotted across the land look to the immortal alicorns for guidance and protection, hoping that Apple Jack may soon return in case of another attack from an evil force. The story begins, with a heroine napping on her birthday one afternoon...

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A young filly searches Outset Island for her older sister. "Apple Jack! Apple Jack!" She called out.

She finds a nearby platform, and climbs to the top. "I've found you, sister! It's your birthday, Apple Jack! Granny Smith has a special surprise for you," She said.

Apple Jack yawns as she opens her eyes. She gazes at her younger sister, whom she calls Apple Bloom. "Apple Bloom, I'll be there in a sec," She said.

"This is also for you- a telescope," Apple Bloom said.

Apple Jack takes the telescope, and gazes into the bright blue sky. In the distance, she notices a giant bird carrying a lavender pony with a dark blue mane and hot pink streaks. The mare's cutie mark is a magenta star with five stars around it. The bird suddenly drops the lavender mare, and Apple Jack assumes that the mare needs help.

Apple Jack rushes to her home, seeking a birthday surprise. "Granny, do you have something for me?" She asked.

"Yes, my dear. It is a green garb that many heroines wear when they come of age," Granny Smith replied.

"I'm a heroine? But, I'm just a regular mare. I never saved anypony-"

"Now, dear. Your great aunt has trained to be just like her mother, but her mother has disappeared for a strange reason."

"You mean Aunt Apple Pie?"

"Of course."

"Try this on, my dear," Granny Smith concluded as she lends the tunic to Apple Jack.

"Thanks, but I prefer my cow-mare hat," Apple Jack replied.

She tries on the green tunic, and looks into the mirror. She frowns a bit- she gets scared sometimes, even though she has a tough exterior. She doesn't see herself as a heroine- just a regular pony without such a heroic destiny. "How am I a heroine?" She asked.

"It is customary," Granny Smith replied, "You must visit your aunt. She will train you to become a heroic warrior. And, have you heard of the Elements of Harmony?"

"Of course not."

"Go along, now."

Apple Jack runs off to Apple Pie's cottage, and as she walks in, she seems impressed by the amount of weapons- this mare must have trained for years. "Apple Pie, I seek training," Apple Jack said.

"I know. Your grandmother has told me," Her aunt replied, "Let's start. I'll give you a trusty blade that is intended for ponies."

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Apple Jack's P.O.V

My aunt seems a bit stronger than I, as if she's trained since foalhood. She places a sword on my hoof, and uses a strap to tie the sword to my hoof. "Start with a vertical slash and also a horizontical slash. Then you may do the spin attack and the jump attack," She said, "It takes some time."

I train for a few minutes, and then I tell her that I am now finished. "I'm going to find the unicorn that fell from the sky," I told her.

"Unicorn? I've never seen an unicorn- but there are stories about unicorns," My aunt replied, "You must find her. She must be badly injured."

I quickly rush up to the bridge after getting out of the cottage. I cross the bridge, and then I enter the woods. A few goblins appear, and they try to attack me. The other two goblins are trying to hurt the unicorn, who is stuck on the tree. I must save her! I slash the goblins, and they groan in pain as a few gems mysteriously appear. I collect them anyways, thinking that it could be money.

I approach the two goblins near the tree, and I smirk. "You can't beat me," I remarked, "This mare deserves to live."

The goblins try to attack me, but I push them off with my back legs. They die as a result, and the unicorn falls to the ground. She wakes up, and looks around. "Huh? Oh, it's you, earth pony... And what's with the get-up?" She asked as she notices me.

She wears her hair in a bun, and on her belt is a small sword- almost like a knife. "Oh. Call me Spark," She said.

"Spark? That sounds a bit boyish. No offense. My name is Apple Jack. It's nice to meet you," I replied.

"I'm not interested in making friends, but I could have killed the monsters by myself."

She gives me a slight glare as a bulky pegasus rushes in. "Spark, you're okay! We are worried about you. You must come back to the ship," He said.

"Alright, Flash Sentry, if that means anything... I don't know what's with this Apple Jack, but we are leading her out because she's apparently in danger," Spark replied.

"I don't need protection! I dealt with the goblins, Spark! They could have eaten you all up," I reminded Spark.

"That wouldn't give me a shudder," She told me as we walk out of the woods.

As we approach the bridge, Apple Bloom is standing on the bridge, waving to me. "Hi, sister! You're okay!" She called.

"I found a mare!" I called back.

As I step onto the bridge, the same bird from before swoops down to catch Apple Bloom, and Apple Bloom shrieks in terror. "Big sister!" She screamed.

"Not so fast, evil bird!" I shouted at the bird as I rush towards the beast.

I suddenly fall off, and I scream for a second. I feel a tingling sensation on my left hoof, and I realized that Spark has caught me. Though I thank her for her efforts to keep me from drowning, the only thing on my mind now is my sister's safety. "Silly little filly! You think you could fly straight off the cliff! You are not a pegasus," Spark scolded.

We all walk to the ship, and Spark approaches the ship. "Are you going to save your sister, because you may not come back because of mysterious disturbances! I know you care about your sister, but you should get a shield, because we're going to depart in less than three minutes! You're surely not as smart, which surprises me. Whenever I get bored, I read," Spark said.

"Are you kidding?" I asked, "I would never see my family again! They matter to me, and..."

"If you're desperate, just get the stupid shield already!"

Sheesh, this mare is so rude. For a beauty, she is actually such a pirate-mare, if you ask me. I rush to Granny's house, and she seems a bit sad. "Did something happen?" She asked.

"Apple Bloom is kidnapped by the giant bird!" I blurted out as I start crying, "And the unicorn prevented me from saving my sister."

"Don't blame that on the unicorn. It's the bird's fault, not hers, that Apple Bloom is now missing. The unicorn is smart to catch you before you drown. You will take this shield, because you may not come back for a long time. Good luck, my dear..."

She lends the shield to me, and the shield is tied to my back. "Why did the monster kidnap such a dear little filly?" Granny concluded as I walk out.

I walk to the ship, and Spark notices the shield. "You're all set, Apple Jack! You're ready to save your sister," She said.

We enter the ship, and Spark speaks with me the whole time as I look back at Outset Island. I notice Granny waving at me, and I wave back to her. "I'll miss you," I whispered.

"How chummy of you to miss an old mare. Why is it that you want to go back, if you have to save somepony?" Spark said to me.

She winks at me, and I simply reply with a forlorn expression.