Buck...buck...buck...
Applejack used her powerful legs to kick through the solid stone cave. Something about this felt right to her. Honestly, it was the only thing that did feel right, aside from her name. Even after the power that her mask granted her, she still felt...wrong. This was the only thing that kept her focused.
As Apple jack gave one more buck, she burst through the rock and out onto a field, filled with lusciously green grass and gigantic trees, practically decorated with leaves. The sun blazed down brilliantly, so Applejack had to adjust her mask to keep it from going in her eyes. Her mask was also unique. A large round object on top of her head, held onto the mask by a hinge, served as an eye shield. It didn't bother Applejack too much, as long as it didn't get in front of her eyes fully.
As Applejack wandered through the orchard, she came across a large statue in the middle of a clearing. The statue was familiar to Applejack. Very familiar. It was a statue of herself, raising an arm in a victory pose, accompanied by five similar figures, all of them wearing masks of varying shape and size. Applejack went to take a closer look at the statue, and as she did, saw a word laid out in cobblestones at the base of the statue.
Apple-Koro.
"What in the hay is Apple-Koro?" Applejack asked aloud. It had part of her name in it, but she couldn't remember any Apple-Koro. In fact, she couldn't remember much, aside from her name and a few snippets of dreams. At least, she thought they were dreams. HOPED they were dreams, for some of them had been dark, and full of fear, but others were good, and filled her with a sense of happiness and belonging. Of...harmony.
A scuffling sound made Applejack turn her head. She noticed a shape running along through the forest. It looked an awful lot like her, only it was smaller.
"Hey! Hey! Howdy!" Applejack called to the smaller being. It paused in its tracks, turned, saw Applejack, and froze.
"Oh." It said, not closing its mouth. "Oh oh."
"What are you blabbering on about?" Applejack raised an eyebrow underneath her mask, then paused. Maybe this being didn't speak the same language as she did.
"Hel-lo." She said slowly. "Me...Apple...jack." She raised a hand to her chest armor, making sure to break up her name. "Who...are...you?" She pointed at the smaller being. "Understand?"
"Wha? Oh, yes, of course! Toa Applejack! We've been waiting for you!" The being unfroze and bowed low. "It's an honor...oh! The Turaga will want to see you! Follow me!"
"I...uh..." Applejack was taken aback slightly. She had just acted like an idiot in front of a being that obviously revered her, and understood her.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" She asked the being.
"Oh, sorry for not introducing myself before. I'm Apple Bumpkin." Apple Bumpkin bowed again as she walked. "I work for the Turaga."
"The what now?" Applejack asked.
"You'll see soon enough, Toa." Apple Bumpkin smiled as they reached a large red building. It resembled a farming barn, but was well built, like a fortress. It stood in the middle of several fields, all of which were dominated by large bulks of crops and plants.
"Wait here, Toa. I'll get the Turaga." Apple Bumpkin bounded off in search of this "Turaga". Applejack was just left standing in between a couple of fields. The workers in the fields stared at her in awe, as if they had never seen something like her before. Honestly, it was creeping Applejack out.
"Here she is, Turaga." Applejack heard Apple Bumpkin's voice and turned to face her. Apple Bumpkin was escorting another being like her, only this one appeared older. It was a light green color and the eyes behind its mask seemed to hold untold wisdom. The two of them were accompanied by a veritable giant, by their standards. This giant being had a half-bored look plastered onto his face and carried a powerful-looking axe weapon.
"I am Smart Cookie, Turaga of this village of Apple-Koro." The Turaga's voice sounded wavy and cracked. "We've been waiting for you, Toa Applejack."
"Have you now?" Applejack asked. "I was hoping you have some answers for me."
"That depends on what you wish to know." Turaga Cookie replied. "Big Macintosh, you can leave us now. I'm in capable hands."
The giant called "Big Macintosh" (and Applejack could see why) simply said "Eeyup." and walked away, swinging his axe over one shoulder.
"My bodyguard." Turaga Cookie answered Applejack's questioning look. "He's very loyal."
"I'm sure." Applejack said. "Now then. Where am I and what am I doing here?"
"This is the island of Ponyville Nui. Our home." Smart explained. "We were given this paradise by the Great Spirit, long ago. As for what you are, that's a bit harder to explain."
"Why?" Applejack asked.
"It is said that the Toa would come to us in our darkest hour of need." Cookie said. "They would possess the powers of the Elements of Harmony themselves, and would have to master that power in order to defeat the Marekuta."
At the mention of "Marekuta", Applejack felt a dark vision tug at the corner of her mind: a dark face, shrouded by shadow and smoke.
"What in the hay is a "Marekuta"?" Applejack asked nervously.
"She is the darkness. The embodiment of hatred and fear." Turaga Cookie said reluctantly. "She imprisoned the Great Spirit on the island, and holds it in an iron grip. Only the Toa have the power to defeat her and drive her from the island."
"But I don't have any great power!" Applejack protested.
"But you do! You just need to learn to harness it." Cookie replied calmly. "Your power comes from your honesty. Be true to yourself, and your power will be strong."
"Honesty? That's my power?" Applejack looked incredulous.
"Indeed. But just honesty is not enough." Turaga Cookie continued. "You must find the other Toa."