//------------------------------// // 3. Bad Apples // Story: Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation // by Dan The Man //------------------------------// 3. Scene – The Pathway   ·Laukkinen: *turns on a digital voice recorder he brought along* Okay. So, uh, I walk here. With the delegation of Mr. Finch and Mr. Hartfield. I… *sounds of checking his pocket* Oh Jumala, One moment. Mr. Hartfield, what is the clock? ·Hartfield: Dunno, the battery’s still dying on me. ·Laukkinen: Kunossa! *to DVR* Well. It’s about noon, and we go through small forests and a big field, about for one kilometre, so twenty minutes. We have talked with our, uhm, greeting party. Is consisting of three Equine… ponies. Look like Shetlands. Have nigh-human style of life. They talk. And in English (note: with strangely American dialect). Claim to have a society, called Equinestria. Have very distinct genetic traits.  One has purple eyes, another one has purple mane and fur, as well as dark purple eyes. The same one has… a horn-like growth on forehead. Very reminiscent of a… *cannot remember English word* Translate: Yksisarvinen. Back to the culture: One wears strange fedora-esque headgear. ·Applejack: Would you stop touchin’ my hat?! ·Laukkinen: *excited* Sorry. Could you… repeat it again? Speak into here, please… ·Applejack: and put that thing outta my face. *grunts* Will you keep doin’ thes for de ho’ trip now? ·Laukkinen: *ignores her* It is fascinating. Very Americanismic choice of words. Apart of that, have noticed a rank and honour system (consisting of “jolly badges” in areas of life in which they excel, such as agriculture or musical instrumentality), additional to a social hierarchy structure. ·Applejack: Could you just stuhp usin’ fancy terms, mister?! ·Laukkinen: They have community leaders: One… no two monarchs. They are entitled… “Princesses”. However, there is no king or queen represented above, apparently… ·Applejack: Are you insultin’ da princesses now, huh?! ·Laukkinen: *finally acknowledges her* If you want to comment, say it into here, please! ·Applejack: No! ·Laukkinen: It is my profession to document the progressing. After all, I am a reporter and News correspondent. *back to DVR* Pardon the interruption. One of the Equines is shy, reserved. One is interested, fascinated, very approaching to the delegates. The third one is very… ehm… temperamental, though- ·Applejack: *snaps* Now listen here, mister! First’y it’s “Equestria”, nuht “Equestriana”! Second’y, it’s “Cutie Marks”, not “Juhlly Badg’ies”! Third’y: Ah’ve heard stories of my own grandmother ‘bout ya ‘umans, an’ ya weren’t nuht well receiv’d! ·Levin: *to Applejack* I am sorry, Ms. Applejack, is it? I am in charge of the safety of the emissaries. If you keep showing such an antagonistic attitude, I will have to separate you from this party. ·Twilight: *intervenes; to Levin* Please, I must apologize for my friend. She is still… very unacquainted to such situations. I will talk to her. ·Laukkinen. *back to DVR* Well, it is noon on the 15th of September, my name is Joona Filip Laukkinen, Documentator of the Diplomatic Exploration of H#12 as intended by the United Nations delegation under Charge d’affaires Donathan Finch. H#12 is now formally  defined as The Kingdom… no… the principality of Equestria. *turns off the DVR* So, that is done. *to Finch, who is nearby* Log 1 of Day 1 completely recorded, Mr. Finch. ·Finch: Thank you, Mr. Laukkinen. Please have some battery power reserved to record the talks. *grabs and digs around his suitcase, which now looks hilariously out of place in the woods* ·Twilight: *hissing to Applejack* Was that really necessary? ·Applejack: Nah, it wasn’t. But ah juhst wonder ‘bout mah granny’s stories regardin’ ‘em ‘umans. Dey say dat they put ponies to work, and dat dey ate ‘em afterwards. ·Octavia: *intimidated* Oh, really? ·Twilight: Now these are just stories, Octavia. They are just legends. ·Octavia: Well, I don’t know. If you get them told to you your whole life, one does start to believe them sooner or later… ·Twilight: Aw, come on, you two. These are just tales you tell to fillies to get them to sleep. *looks into the noon sky; double-takes* Say, didn’t we forget something? ·Applejack: Whaddya mean? ·Twilight: *realises* Talking of fillies; we were in our way to Pinkie Pie, weren’t we, Applejack? ·Applejack: Holy apples, yes! Ah todally forguht that! Somepony has to tell ‘er dat we cain’t make it. ·Octavia: Who do you mean? Pinkie, my sister? ·Twilight: Yes, yes. *double take* Wait, what? She is you sister? I didn’t know that. ·Applejack: Me neith’r. You’re her sister, Octavia? But she never told uhs dat. ·Octavia: Well, we haven’t spoken for some time. We just had different aspirations, that’s all. I always wanted to play a Cello on the big stage in Ponyville, and maybe for Princess Celestia. She, on the other hoof… ·Applejack: Always wan’ed to be a “partey!!!” pony, huh? ·Octavia: *looks on the floor* Aha. ·Twilight: Would you perhaps like to join us later on, when we meet up with Pinkie? ·Octavia: *rolls eyes in uncertainty* I don’t know… ·Twilight: Come on, she is your sister, after all. ·Octavia: *looks up again; at Twilight* Oh well… ·Applejack: Okay, c’mon den, Octavia. We’re past due anyway… can’t get away fruhm ‘ere fast enuff! ·Octavia:  What, are we going now already? ·Applejack: Sure, now or never. We may ‘ave to send Pinkie on ‘er way, ‘cos she’ll probably freak out when she sees dem ‘umans… ·Twilight: Yes, that’s probably a good idea, Applejack. You two go. Pinkie can come along *rolls eyes* but I wouldn’t advise it… *to Levin* I’m sorry Ma’am, but there is some personal matters my friend have to attend to. Can they join us later on? ·Levin: *skeptical* Yes… technically speaking… please mind your entrances from now on, though. I want to take notice of all of this group’s movements now.  Please be discrete about their Excellency’s presences, this mission is classified as ‘Confidential’. ·Applejack: Okay, Twilight, see y’all lader! ·Octavia: Good bye, Twilight. ·Twilight: See you both later. (Concluding Music Cue)