//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: The Trial: Part I // Story: Applejack's Trial // by Dreadnought //------------------------------// Golden Harvest rarely gave in to believing stereotypes. Those who advocated them typically were biased and trying to sway uninformed ponies to their point of view. Golden Harvest liked to give everypony the benefit of the doubt and draw her own conclusions. However, she had quickly learned that the majority of Manehattanites unquestionably lived up to their reputation. Rude, inconsiderate, pushy, arrogant, careless, insensitive, self-centered... the list could go on and on. Walking the sidewalks during rush hour had been a truly dangerous experience. The crowds had turned a simple morning trot into an odyssey of self-preservation. She had to continually dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge out of their way, lest she get run over and trampled to death. And she had to look out for delivery ponies wheeling massive carts, speeding wagons and carriages on the street, the ever-present threat of pickpockets, and the random dropped wrench from a construction site. Yes, it was truly a dangerous experience. Unless, of course, you were escorted by a squad of the Manehattan PD. If she didn’t know any better, Golden Harvest would have thought Lieutenant Beat was a unicorn wielding some powerful spell. As the group marched down the sidewalk, the morning crowds parted to either side as if by magic. It seemed that nopony wanted to mess with a group of heavily armed officers of the law as they transported their manacled prisoner to stand trial. On the other hoof, Golden Harvest’s elation of not having to navigate the crowds was tempered by the knowledge that Applejack was having a miserable experience. And who could blame her? Getting dragged halfway across Equestria, spending the night in jail for unknown crimes, having a lawyer that left much to be desired, and the humiliation of being paraded through the biggest city in the kingdom in shackles. After walking five blocks, the group finally arrived at the court house. It was an commanding building constructed of large blocks of chiseled white marble. A series of wide steps swept gracefully up to a grand portico of eight towering Corinthian columns. Among the finely carved statues that adorned the building’s pediment, a blindfolded mare holding a set of scales stood prominently in the center. After checking in with security, the group approached a pair of heavy oak doors. They swung open dramatically to reveal a grand courtroom. Large skylights flooded the interior with sunlight, giving the room a sense of majesty and illuminating the upper galleries. A long center aisle stretched out before them with ten rows of benches on either side. Towards the front stood two large tables for the defense and prosecution. On the right a finely crafted balustrade cordoned off twelve seats for the jury. And dominating the entire room, upon a raised dais, stood the imposing desk for the presiding judge. The two friends stood in awe for a moment, until one of the guards yanked Applejack forward. Golden Harvest followed the accused to the front of the courtroom, where Applejack and Whinny took seats behind one of the tables. One of the guards removed the shackles around Applejack’s legs. Golden Harvest sat on a bench right behind the defense. Whinny placed his briefcase upon the table and removed several folders and a legal pad. He busied himself with organizing the documents he had brought. The sound of hoofbeats from the back of the courtroom drew everypony’s attention. Golden Harvest turned and saw a pale-yellow unicorn with a stylized fiery red mane. The mare’s formal pantsuit highlighted her authority while the scowl reinforced her serious demeanor. Trailing a respectful distance behind her was an earth pony stallion in a business suit. He carefully balanced several heavy binders of documents. “Who’s that?” wondered Golden Harvest. Pushing his glasses back up on his snout, Whinny explained, “That’s District Attorney Tough Cookie. I wouldn’t want to go up against her.” Both Applejack and Golden Harvest stared at him. “Uh... I mean... if you’re guilty. Which you aren’t. Most definitely not... I need to go talk to her.” He quickly left his seat. The two mares exchanged knowing glances. Whinny and Tough Cookie engaged in a conversation off to the side while the DA’s assistant organized the documents. Applejack sighed, “When Ah came to Manehattan as a filly, Ah wanted ta be a cultured pony. Ah sure as heck never thought Ah’d end up in jail.” “Well,” said Golden Harvest, “we’ll just have to make sure that last night was a one a once-in-a-lifetime event.” Applejack gave a half-hearted laugh. Trying to lighten the mood, Golden Harvest said, “Applejack, tell me about the story of the split-personality Fluttershy running Rarity’s boutique.” And so, for the next several minutes, Applejack related the story of four Fluttershys working in Rarity’s Manehattan Boutique. All the while ponies filed into the benches of the courtroom. Up front, twelve ponies took their seats as the jury. Finally, as Applejack was finishing her tale, Whinny returned to the table. “Well?” prodded Applejack. Taking his glasses off his snout to wipe them with a handkerchief, he said, “She wanted to make a deal.” “Oh?” said Applejack with a raised eyebrow. “If you pleaded guilty to the armed robbery and two of the counts of assault, she would drop the other charges.” “Two counts of assault! How many am Ah being charged with?” Putting his glasses back on, Whinny explained, “Ah saw at least four, but I haven’t had a chance to go through all the records.” “Four,” repeated Applejack in a complete state of shock. “And what did you tell her?” asked Golden Harvest. “I told her my client would not plead guilty to any charges.” “Well,” began Applejack with a sigh, “when does this thing start?” Looking up at the courtroom’s clock, he said, “Very soon.” Once again the two mares exchanged looks, but Applejack’s was far more uncertain than it had been before. Shortly a uniformed officer entered the room and all chatter ceased. “All rise!” he commanded. From a side door an elderly stallion entered. Golden Harvest thought he bore more than a passing resemblance to Grand Pear, except this stallion was a pale green unicorn with one stubborn streak of fading black in his otherwise grayish-white mane. He wore a standard black judge’s robe that covered most of his body, but his tail poked through an appropriately placed slit in the back. As he approached the bench, he glanced their way. Perhaps it was the light, but for the briefest of moments Golden Harvest thought he was giving them a nasty glare. No. Judges were impartial; it must have been her nerves. “Oh shit,” muttered Whinny. “What?” pressed Applejack in a hushed tone. The officer announced, “Court is in session. The Honorable Judge Dread presiding.” At that, everypony took their seat. The judge donned a pair of reading glasses and examined the documents before him. Applejack whispered, “Is it bad?” Leaning over, Whinny hurriedly gave a hushed explanation. “Judge Dread is a legend. He’s tried more cases than any other judge in Equestria. He’s well known for being extremely strict on the law. It’s said that he has the entire judiciary under his hoof and nopony questions his authority. When I was in law school – ” Bang! Whinny snapped to attention in his chair. The judge set his gavel aside and surveyed the courtroom before him. “We are here today for the trial of one Applejack Apple.” Whinny stood up, much to Golden Harvest’s surprise, though she did noticed he seemed to be trembling slightly. “Your Honor....” Judge Dread narrowed his eyes and cast his glare down, “And you would be?” “I – er – um – ” He shuffled uneasily. “Yes?” pressed the judge. He quickly spat out, “I am Miss Whinny’s attorney, Applejack.” Golden Harvest facehoofed while Applejack buried her head in her hooves. Apparently not expecting that answer, he was momentarily taken aback. “And who is Miss Whinny?” “I mean – uh – I am Whinny, Miss Applejack’s attorney.” Judge Dread leaned forward, “Are you sure about that?” Then, giving Whinny careful scrutiny, continued, “We have yet to begin, and you already wish to say something?” “Well, I – uh – I motion that this trial be rescheduled,” he explained, pushing his glasses back up his snout. “Rescheduled?” “Well, if you wouldn’t mind,” he said in a lowered tone. “Mister Whinny, we have subpoenaed all these witnesses and experts here to testify today,” he said as he swept his foreleg dramatically to indicate the ponies in the audience. “They made time in their busy schedules. Surely you do not expect to inconvenience them further by asking them to come back?” Pushing on his glasses, even though they hadn’t slipped down, Whinny stammered, “We are not ready for this trial, your Honor. I’ve only been her lawyer – ” “We have given Miss Apple fair warning of these proceedings. She has had plenty of time to arrange her legal defense. That she chose to ignore the summons that I personally mailed to her is her fault. I was ready to hold this trial in absentia, but since the RBI was kind enough to escort her to Manehattan, we can have this trial with her present.” He stared down Whinny. “Anything else?” “No, your honor,” answered Whinny in a barely audible voice. Golden Harvest leaned forward and whispered to Applejack, “What summons?” Shaking her head, Applejack whispered back, “I dunno. I never got any.” Judge Dread began, “Mister Whinny, I assume Miss Apple knows the charges she’s facing?” “…” “What was that?” “Yes, your honor,” squeaked Whinny in a manner reminiscent of Fluttershy. “And how would your client like to plead to the numerous charges facing her?” “She would like to plead innocent, your honor.” Peering over his reading glasses, he repeated, “Innocent?” “Yes, your honor.” Judge Dread eyed Whinny for a long time, then sat back in his chair. “Very well.” He looked over at Tough Cookie. “The prosecution may make its opening statement.” The District Attorney rose from her seat....