The entire apology letter scene expanded for detail.
I'm sure everybody remembers how the CMC were harshly shunned by the whole town to such an extent that it took a heartfelt apology letter to earn their forgiveness. This story is gonna show would might have happened during the entire "apology letter" sequence, which not only has the CMC's friends and family members apologizing for how harsh their reactions were upon finding out that they were Gabby Gums, but also for their hypocrisy which was never fully addressed in the episode.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders -- Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo -- had just started their big delivery of their final Gabby Gums column: an open apology letter to all of Ponyville. The three poor fillies had realized just yesterday how much their gossip stories had hurt the entire town, including their own friends and relatives. Nopony wanted to talk to them, so they had retreated to their clubhouse where they stayed for who knows how long until they came up with a solution to what was arguably the biggest crisis of their lives. Sure enough, what they came up with was nothing short of a great deal of maturity on their part. They even managed to slip it under the nose of their heartless editor-in-chief, Diamond Tiara, who was probably the nastiest, brattiest filly they had ever known in their lives. Along with her friend Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara was always cruelly mocking, taunting, and putting down other foals who had not yet gotten their cutie marks yet, and the CMC (that's short for "Cutie Mark Crusaders") had put up with her so many times. This time, of course, she had gone too far by making them come up with hurtful gossip stories and even worse, she explicitly did not care about how everypony else was feeling. But worst of all, she blackmailed the CMC with embarrassing photos of themselves into continuing the gossip columns, so the three fillies knew they'd risk public humiliation for the sake of earning everypony's forgiveness, which they were about to earn right now.
The CMC had just finished delivering their first few copies of the apology letter when suddenly, it began to rain -- down on them, no less! A raincloud was placed over them by one Rainbow Dash who was still ticked at them for their harmful gossip. As the bitter-filled pegasus continuously stomped on the cloud, the poor little fillies used a copy of the letter as an umbrella.
"Do you think we should tell her to stop and take a look?" Scootaloo softly asked her friends.
"No," said Sweetie Belle in an equally hushed voice. "She'll find out."
"I sure hope so," put in Apple Bloom.
Well, the three friends had endured a lot of rain for almost five minutes, until the light blue pegasus with the rainbow-colored mane and tail finally stopped and peered down at the fine bold print laid out below her. Seeing her attention grabbed at last, the fillies poked their heads out from under the paper, looking as sad as any pony their age would be when caught in a storm. Rainbow Dash's face produced a wide grin, and with one swift kick, knocked the raincloud off their back. She swooped down and grabbed the copy of the letter. Out loud, she read:
"To the citizens of Ponyville,
For some time now, you've been reading this column to get the latest dirt and the hottest buzz, but this will be my final piece. We want to apologize for the pain and embarrassment we've caused. You see, I'm actually three little fillies: Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. As the popularity of our column grew, we got swept up in the hype. We knew that what we were doing didn't feel quite right, but we ignored the guilt because everypony seemed to want to read what we were writing. From now on, we promise to respect everypony else's privacy, and we won't engage in hurtful gossip anymore. All we can do is ask for your forgiveness, Ponyville.
Signing off for the very last time, XOXO Gabby Gums"
As soon as she finished reading the letter, Rainbow Dash looked down upon the fillies who all looked contrite.
"Yeah, we're all really sorry, Rainbow Dash," said Scootaloo.
"Hey, I'm sorry, too," replied Rainbow Dash, much to the fillies' surprise. "I just realized that I had pushed myself too hard into getting an article written about me, and I know I shouldn't have been so hypocritical about it." She then drew her attention to her biggest fan, which was, of course, Scootaloo. "And, Scootaloo, I'd understand if you didn't wanna be my number one fan anymore."
Scootaloo walked up to her heroine with a warm smile. "Hey, I'll always be your biggest fan, even if you did make it pour rain down on me and my friends."
Apple Bloom stepped up. "Now that she mentions it, that was real harsh of you, Rainbow Dash."
"Yeah," added Sweetie Belle, who had just thought back to yesterday when she said that she and her friends had ruined all their friendships. "Come to think of it, we know you had every right to be mad at us, but what you did to take your anger out on us, that was very mean."
Rainbow Dash's face fell. "Oh, yeah," she said glumly. "I'm sorry about that."
"That's alright," said Scootaloo. "We forgive you."
"Thanks," replied Rainbow with a warm smile. "I forgive you three, too."
The fillies smiled as Rainbow Dash wrapped them up in a hug.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders had soon made their way over to Fluttershy's house. Fortunately, there weren't any tears leaking under the door like yesterday. The fillies knocked on the door and who should answer it but Fluttershy's rabbit Angel who maintained a hateful glare at the trio. Behind her, Fluttershy was still on her couch crying in misery. Thankfully, though, her tears had died down since. She looked up as the CMC passed a copy of the apology letter unto Angel whose expression changed to surprise. Upon reading the fine print, the feisty little rabbit quickly dashed back inside and gave it to Fluttershy to read. After reading the letter, Fluttershy stepped outside with a warm, forgiving smile and hugged the fillies all at once.
"We're sorry, Fluttershy," said Sweetie Belle.
"It's okay," replied Fluttershy in her naturally sweet, soft-spoken voice. "I forgive you all."
The young trio nearly leaked tears of joy.
"Thanks," said Scootaloo as they pulled out of the shy pegasus' embrace.
Then Apple Bloom had a thought. "I don't suppose you'd have a li'l confession to make yourself, huh?"
Fluttershy looked confused. "Why do you ask?" she asked.
"Well, you see," explained Scootaloo, "when we delivered Rainbow Dash her own copy of the letter, she admitted herself to being, uh... 'hypocritical' about the whole thing."
"Yeah," added Sweetie Belle, "we've figured just now that everypony who enjoyed these stories got real upset when they found stories about them."
Fluttershy looked down in guilt. "Oh, yes," she cooed remorsefully. "Now that I think about it, I guess I'm just as in the wrong as you three were. I'm sorry."
"That's alright, Fluttershy," chirped Apple Bloom. "We forgive ya, too."
Fluttershy smiled gratefully. "Oh, thank you!" she crooned, hugging the fillies once more. Then she had a thought herself. "Maybe I should talk to Angel about this..."
The trio of fillies had soon made their way over to the Golden Oak Library, where the forcefield that Twilight Sparkle had put up still surrounded the entire place like a life-size snow globe. Our little friends knew that they couldn't get in as long as that overreactive bubble shut them out, so they did the only thing they could do: tap away at its unfriendly surface. This went on until a distrustful-looking Spike poked his head out the front door. The CMC knew he'd still be feeling that way when he saw them again, so with eager smiles, they held up another copy of the letter for him to feast his eyes on. Seeing the fine bold print on the front page, Spike's bitter demeanor instantly changed to that of happiness, an inviting smile forming on his cute reptilian face. Twilight poked her head out the door as well and seeing the sincerity of the words printed on the paper, she walked outside towards our little filly friends and dropped the forcefield. As soon as the forcefield was gone, Twilight looked at the fillies and smiled as sweetly as her mentor Princess Celestia.
"Does this mean you forgive us?" Apple Bloom asked hopefully.
"I do," said Twilight, wrapping the trio up in a motherly sort of hug.
"But Twilight," said Sweetie Belle, "don't you think putting up that forcefield was kinda harsh?"
"What do you mean?" asked Twilight.
"Well, we know you had every right as everypony else to be upset with us," said Scootaloo, "but putting up that forcefield just to shut us out was just too much."
"Yeah," agreed Apple Bloom, "you should have at least considered giving us a chance to explain ourselves before you thought of putting it up just to keep us away."
Twilight looked down in guilt. "Gosh," she said. "I never really thought about that. I'm sorry."
"It's alright," said Scootaloo. "We forgive you. On the other hoof, though, I gotta admit that it is kinda awesome to know that you've managed to conjure up a forcefield that big."
"Yeah," put in Apple Bloom, "no evil pony's gonna mess with you and your forcefields the next time around!"
"Gee, thanks," said Twilight, blushing a bit. She reached down and sweetly hugged the fillies once more.
"Is it alright if we come inside the library?" asked Sweetie Belle.
"Sure," said Twilight.
So the CMC followed Twilight into the library where Spike stood with his back turned and his head hanging. The four ponies looked worried, especially Twilight since Spike was her number one assistant.
"What's the matter, Spike?" asked Twilight.
Spike turned to face the ponies, tears leaking out of his eyes.
"Oh, nothing," he sniffled, "I just... I couldn't help but overhear you guys talking about the forcefield, and I... well..." He looked the three fillies square in the eye. "I just feel so bad for yelling at you three the way I did!"
"Aw, it's alright, Spike," said Apple Bloom, "We forgive ya."
The fillies held out their arms and Spike dried his eyes and smiled, ran over to our filly friends, and gave them a big hug, which they returned to him. It was a sign that Spike and the CMC would still be on good terms forever.
"And I forgive you guys," the young dragon said.
"Thanks," replied Scootaloo.
After they finished hugging, the CMC turned to Twilight once more.
"I don't suppose you're sorry for bein' a hypocrite, too?" inquired Apple Bloom.
"Since everypony else who laughed at our stories got real upset at the stories written about them," added Sweetie Belle.
Twilight scratched the back of her head. "Well, actually, I was against the whole thing from the start. I never really showed any interest in what you three were writing."
"Oh," said Apple Bloom. "I guess that makes sense."
"But we've already talked to Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy about it," said Scootaloo, "and they realized how hypocritical they were being; and if we're not being too much trouble, do you think you could help us a bit, Twilight?"
"Well," said Twilight with a smile, "since you three have managed to learn your lesson, I'd be happy to help. I'll go talk to Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity about it, and you can take it up with them later. How does that sound?"
"That sounds great!" exclaimed Scootaloo.
"We can't thank you enough, Twilight!" cried Apple Bloom as she and the other two fillies hugged Twilight.
"Aw, don't mention it!" said Twilight, hugging them back. Spike joined Twilight in hugging the sweet little fillies. They all knew that their friendship would last forever.
The last copies of the letter were just being delivered, and almost all of Ponyville had forgiven our little filly friends and once more greeted them with welcoming smiles, especially Pinkie Pie, who threw her arms around them and bounced up and down with joy.
"I suppose Twilight talked to you about it?" inquired Scootaloo a bit queasily.
"You bet!" chirped Pinkie. "And I promise to throw a big party just for the three of you, because I forgive you!"
"That's great," replied Sweetie Belle, "'cause we forgive you for your hypocrisy."
"Thanks!" cried Pinkie. "This is the best apology day EVER!" She finally set the fillies down and grabbed her own copy of the letter.
"Apple Bloom!" somepony called out. The fillies turned around and saw Applejack and Rarity. While Scootaloo continued handing out copies, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle walked up to their respective older sisters. Rarity hugged her little sister and gave her a forgiving nuzzle.
"I'm so proud of you!" Rarity crooned.
"Thanks!" replied Sweetie Belle. "Do you really forgive me?"
"Of course I do, dear, and we owe some to Twilight as well for telling me and Applejack and Pinkie Pie."
"Heh, I know."
This earned an approving nod from Applejack.
"And Sweetie Belle," continued Rarity, "I'm sorry for my hypocrisy as well."
"I forgive you, Rarity," replied Sweetie Belle.
Apple Bloom, on the other hoof, looked up at her big sister with a contrite look on her (Apple Bloom's) face. Applejack smiled tenderly down at her little sister and the two earth pony sisters happily nuzzled cheeks, followed by their noses pressing against each other's.
"Does this mean you forgive me, Applejack?" asked Apple Bloom.
"Yup," replied Applejack, once more sounding like Big Macintosh.
"Thanks!" Apple Bloom hugged Applejack. "Big Mac isn't still upset, is he?"
Applejack gave a wink. "Nope."
Apple Bloom's face brightened. "You mean he's already heard?"
"You betcha!" Applejack was once again speaking in full sentences. "I reckon we'd better go talk to him right now!"
"Alright!" Apple Bloom cheered. Then she turned to her friends. "C'mon, y'all! We ain't finished yet!"
Applejack led her little sister and the other two fillies over to the orchards in Sweet Apple Acres, where Big Macintosh was standing there waiting with the warmest, most forgiving smile he could ever master.
"Big Mac," said Applejack, "I believe our little sister and her friends would like to say something to you."
Apple Bloom was the first to speak. "Big Mac, we just wanna say we're all really, really sorry for what we did and we hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive us."
"I forgive you three," Big Mac replied in a warm, friendly voice, completely unlike his sharp tongue-lashing which had scared his littlest sister and her friends away. He then bent down and wrapped the fillies up in warm, comforting bear hug which earned a tear from each of the fillies' eyes.
After Big Mac finished hugging our little friends, Applejack walked up to them. "And I'm sorry for bein' a total hypocrite on the whole gossip thing. I guess I shoulda known better than to laugh at stories about other ponies before readin' one about me."
"That's alright, Applejack," said Apple Bloom. "We forgive ya."
"Thanks, li'l sis, and on behalf of Big Macintosh and myself, we're both very sorry for harshly shunning y'all the way we did. It looks like we really shoulda taken a tip from Rarity on confronting you about the whole gossip thing like she did with Sweetie Belle. Anyhoof, we're both mighty sorry for being terrible big siblings."
"We forgive ya both for that as well."
"Thanks. I know this ain't the first time I was a terrible big sister. Remember our first ordeal with Zecora?"
Apple Bloom nodded. "Yep."
"Well," said Applejack with a chuckle, "looks like I'm learnin' all over again!"
This earned a chuckle from Apple Bloom as well. Applejack, Big Macintosh, and the CMC all shared a big group hug. Today was a happy day, because not only had the Cutie Mark Crusaders learned a strong lesson about respecting other ponies' privacy, but their friends and relatives had all learned a thing about hypocrisy which had never been fully addressed before. They all knew that from that day forth, nopony would ever let hurtful gossip come between them ever, ever again. They all loved each other and they were always gonna show it with each passing day. Of course, there was still the matter of what Diamond Tiara would have to say to them...
