Flower Pony Syndicate V Applejack (Season 1 Ep4)

“The Ponyville Flower Pony Syndicate is suing 18 year old Applejack Apple for damages caused by a bunny stampede and invasion. Applejack says it was all an accident.”

Spike looked round to make sure the cameras were rolling, and once he was sure beckoned for Twilight to step forwards. "All Rise” the dragon spoke from the front of Twilights court “Quiet in the Courtroom”. Noticing a few of the ponies were still chatting excitedly, he dipped into the pronunciation lesson he had received from Luna "ALL QUIET IN THE COURTROOM PLEASE!"

Noticing that got everypony's attention, Spike turned and faced his employer/primary care giver “Princess Twilight Sparkle, this is case number one hundred and seventeen in the calendar, in the matter of the Flower Pony Syndicate verses Applejack Apple.” Spike handed the alicorn some papers whilst he spoke, then turned back to the court “All parties have been swore in. You may be seated.”

Twilight turned and face the plaintiffs "The Flower Pony Syndicate? I've not heard of it before this case, but you do understand that only individuals can sue each other in the civil court system?"

"Yes, Princess Sparkle" one of the ponies, a light yellow coloured earth mare responded "We used that name as we have three identical civil claims, so rather then have three cases we bound them together in a joint claim"

"Okay, so for the records, your names are?"

"My name is Roseluck" the first mare spoke "and I will be the main spokespony for the three of us" Daisy and Lily also introduced themselves to the court. Twilight made a note of the ponies name, for she didn't know the mares that well, except for recognising them from around town.

"Thank you ladies. Now you claim that your gardens and allotments were destroyed by an invasion of rabbits, caused by Applejack, and for this you want five hundred bits each?"

"Yes, Princess"

"Now, before I even get to Applejacks defence, I want you to explain exactly what happened"

Roseluck took a deep cleansing breath "Well, we were in town on the 23rd of Solis, minding our own business, when a stampede of rabbits overwhelmed us!"

Twilight raised one eyebrow in suspicion "Overwhelmed, by rabbits?"

"Not overwhelmed by mass, but by number Princess. The rabbits starting eating everything in sight, and whenever we chased one away, two more would take its place, and eventually we were completely outnumbered! We couldn't hurt them of course, and so we had no way to protect our flowers. All our gardens were eaten by the bunnies. Oh the horror... the horror..." the earth mare wailed.

"It was awful" Lily added.

"A disaster. A horrible, horrible disaster." Daisy chipped in.

"Yes, I remember you crying that at me at the time" Twilight muttered under her breath, before coughing a bit "So these rabbits came from nowhere and ate your flowers?"

"Correct, Princess" the light raspberry coated mare known as Daisy confirmed "The rabbits, chased into town by Applejack ate all our best flowers!"

"And your garden flowers are worth all those bits?"

"Yes your honour, as we do sell our garden flowers as well as display them"

"I see. Do you have any evidence that the influx of rabbits was caused by Applejack?"

"Well, she told us at a later point!" Roseluck took the lead again

"Apart from that, do you have a witnesses to collaborate that Applejack caused the invasion?"

"Given she admitted it to us, I didn't think we needed it," Roseluck looked at Twilight with a bit of concern.

"You probably don't, I just needed to check." Twilight smiled back, before turning to the defendant "So, Applejack, would you like to give your version of the events"

"Thank you Princess!" Applejack went to doth her hat, until she realised that she had taken it off for the formal court setting "Roselucks' description of what happened is exactly what happened that day, ya honour"

"That describes what happens once the rabbits reached Ponyville, I'm trying to establish how they got there."

"Sure thing, part...I mean, of course Princess. I was due to help Fluttershy with her there 'bunny census', with me and my trusty dog Winona helping to round up dem rabbits for Fluttershy to count them. Well, I was so tired from working all week that I didn't listen to her or didn't even think properly concarn it. And so rather then gently rounding up em critters, me and Winona scared them good. And that pushed them towards town."

"So, you are just going to admit that your actions caused the bunnies to run into town?" Twilight asked a little surprised.

"Who is the Element of Honesty?" Applejack half boasted "I aint about to go around lying now, unless that vermant Discord is back to his old tricks!"

Twilight had to stifle a bit of a smile at that memory "Okay, so you did cause the rabbits to move to where they don't usually go?" and Applejack simply nodded in confirmation. Twilight turned back to Roseluck "Did any of you have any sort of protection for your gardens?"

"Protection?" the mare responded

"Yes, you know. Fences, netting, something to stop creatures from eating your crops?"

"Erm, no. These were in town and so they have to look nice! Our fields outside of town do of course."

"Theres no law to prevent you from using netting, you didn't have protection because these were to be viewed - they were decoration, more than your crop. So what was to stop bunnies or any other creature from eating them?"

"Nothing, Princess, except that there are never any rabbits in town, except for this time when Applejack caused them to flock here!" Daisy answered "And we do sell our garden flowers, as due to the extra care they tend to be the best looking and tasting!"

"But if they are so valuable, why do you just leave them out for any passing animal, or indeed pony, could eat them?"

Roseluck looked over to her two fellow plaintiffs "Well, perhaps five hundred bits is a bit much, but they are lovely looking and so sell for a premium. We have photos of last years gardens if you want to see?"

"I don't need to see pictures, I see your gardens most days and they are usually wonderful, as are all the flowers in Ponyville" Twilight stared down at the trio, who were looking a little smug sensing victory was near. She could see Applejack out of the corner of her eye, standing proud and tall despite knowing she had no defence. Twilight wanted to stick by her friend, but know she had to be impartial as a judge...but as a judge she could impartially give her views.

"This has been an interesting case for me. You did suffer losses during this episode, but this was not the first or last time Ponyville had any problems. Even I caused some chaos with a mis-used spell. But we are ponies of Equestria, and we stick by each other through the good and the bad, always striving for harmony. The fact you would sue a pony that not only has saved the whole of Ponyville a number of times but also who had saved the whole of Equestria on at least four occasions, it is astonishing to me!"

The three ponies seemingly shrank under the barrage of words, spoken authoritatively but without malice "But all you probably see is Applejack the hard working farmer who you consider a competitor in the market. The fact she was only trying to help with the crown's annual wildlife census, free of charge, seems to be beyond your understanding! I mean, she even admitted her guilt in this matter when you had absolutely no evidence, putting Equestrian justice above her own needs!"

"However, regardless of the fact Applejack is a wonderful and heroic pony -" the orange mare was blushing profusely at this point "- that doesn't actually change the law. If it wasn't for Applejacks actions your gardens would not have been damaged, and so I have to find in your favour in this case. Five hundred bits seems a bit excessive for your losses, but I find you are entitled to a hundred bits each for the lose of income"  Twilight levitated some coin purses from under her bench, counted out bits and practically threw the purses at the trio of ponies who looked a little shocked, the heavy bags landing loudly on the table front of them "And here it is!"

"Twilight, you can't..." Applejack started to protest, but the alicorn ignored her

"One hundred bits! I hope it was worth losing respect over. Now get out of my court!" and with that Twilight got up and trotted out of court, the steely look of a ruler across her face.

"You are excused, step out please" Spike spoke coldly at the trio, who slowly trudged out of the court under the stares of all the ponies gathered.