It had been a few days since the Bearers of Harmony were cured thanks to Zecora. The six mares were trying to come up with any way to properly apologize to Arctic, Glacious, Tree Hugger, and Zecora. Applebloom had regularly begun visiting the four. The five would have fun exploring to very few beautiful spots in the Everfree Forest, telling stories, even camping every so often. Applejack, seeing just how happy Applebloom would be after returning home, made her feel even worse about everything she had done and said about the four. Applejack wasn’t the only one. The rest of the Bearers or Harmony we’re feeling just as bad. Though, none of them felt quite as bad as Twilight. Twilight had experienced this in the past with Spike. She had heard and kept Spike from hearing the many things ponies had said about him.
She’s heard how many ponies disliked Spike. Afraid of him because he was a Dragon, believing that he was terrible and violent much like the other Dragons. Twilight knew Spike was nothing like other Dragons. He was a kind soul and would never up and attack somepony or anything like that. They had no right to judge him, they didn’t know him. And then for Twilight to go and do the same things other ponies had done, to Zecora, Tree Hugger, Arctic, and Glacious? She felt awful. Much like those ponies who didn’t know Spike and judged them, she judged the four Residents of the Everfree and she didn’t even know them.
She was ashamed to admit it, but what she found out Arctic had said was correct. A young filly was far more brave than any of them. Applebloom was brave enough to approach and speak to them. That led to her befriending them and even hanging out with them whenever Applebloom isn’t helping on the farm or crusading with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
==========**********==========
It was the middle of the day. The six mares were all at Sugarcube Corner discussing things.
“Ah just feel horrible.” Said Applejack, her head on the table. “Ah said so many bad things about them. How could ah? Ah couldn’t even work up courage to even give ‘em a chance. Applebloom really is braver than ah am.”
“I do feel awfully dreadful too. If Applebloom is friends with them, then they must be really nice. I can’t think of any way to properly apologize to them.” Rarity said in a low voice.
“What about a party?” Suggested Pinkie. “A party would be the best way to apologize! We could have a ‘We’re sorry for how we treated you and Welcome to Ponyville’ party! I wonder what flavor cake they like. Chocolate? Strawberry? Vanilla? Or do they like cupcakes? What about pies? I don’t know what flavor pie they like though. I could just make every pie flavor I know and see which ones they like more!” Pinkie said.
As pinkie fired off the different things she could do for her party, the others began talking amongst themselves.
“A party sounds nice, what if i got them a pet? Do you think they’d like that?” Asked Fluttershy.
“A pet could be good, Darling. I could make them some dresses. And a bunch of different outfits for that tall gentlecolt. Oh,what’s his name again? Rarity asked.
“Applebloom says his name is Arctic. And why’re yah gonna make so many outfits fer the fella?” Asked Applejack with a raise eyebrow.
“Well, from what I’ve seen, he seems to be always wearing clothes. I could make him more refined clothes. What he seems to where now looks so uncouth.” Rarity said. A disgusted look adorned her muzzle.
Rarity did have a point. Right now, all Arctic wore was a pair of tattered pants and a cloak. So, after everything happened, she decided to make some clothes for him. She wanted it to be her way of apologizing and it was also a project for her. Making clothes for a creature no pony had ever seen? Rarity was ecstatic. She already had designs, she just needed to get his measurements.
“Honestly, I still don’t trust them much, but still. Maybe I could dazzle them with a Sonic Rainboom? Bet they never seen anything like that before.” Rainbow said with a smug smirk.
“I don’t know what I could do for them.” Twilight said. “I just hope I can think of something. Maybe Spike has some ideas.”
“Speaking of my little Spikey-Wikey, how’s he doing, Twilight?” Rarity asked.
“He’s well. He’s still a bit afraid of them, but I’m sure he’ll come to like them once he meets them. Especially Arctic.” Twilight muttered. Believing nopony heard, she was surprised when Applejack spoke up.
“What does that mean, Twi?”
“Well, think about it. Spike and Arctic are they both creatures in a place dominated by ponies.” Twilight said. “While I’m sure Spike would connect with Zecora and Arctic, he’d probably most likely connect with Arctic.”
“Especially since they’re both meat eaters?” Asked Fluttershy.
Twilight sunk into her seat looking down to the ground.
“Yeah.” Twilight inhaled before letting out a long low sigh. “He’s unaware of it, but, just like Arctic, Zecora, Glacious, and Tree Hugger were shunned and discriminated by us, Spike was also discriminated by other ponies. I’ve heard ponies say so many things about him that were just terrible. I protected him from it for so long. I always felt it was terrible to say such things about somepony they didn’t even know well. Then for me to turn around to do the same to those four? I feel so terrible. I can’t hope to be forgiven by them. Queen Celestia would be so disappointed in me if she found this out.”
The others were silent. Pinkie’s mane even deflated slightly. They never knew about this. They all would’ve protected Spike from such a thing. But for them to do it to others? They all felt worse and wanted desperately to apologize.
“Girls, if we’re going to apologize, we need to make this apology as genuine as possible. Do everything we can to show them how sorry we are.” Twilight said.
“When are we going to do this?” Asked Rainbow.
“And what about the other ponies in Ponyville?” Asked Rarity. “They all were pretty bad too. How will we get them to apologize. Or even warm up to them enough to have those four be in Ponyville and not run and hide?”
“Maybe, if they see them all hanging out with Applebloom, they’ll see that those four aren’t bad at all. Maybe that’ll get them to at least give Glacious, Arctic, Tree Hugger, and Zecora a shot.” Fluttershy suggested.
“Ah suppose that could work.” Applejack said.
“It’s not a bad idea Fluttershy.” Said Rarity.
“And then, we can have one great big PARTY!!” Shouted Pinkie Pie, clearly excited to get to know Arctic, Glacious, Zecora, and Tree Hugger.
After that, the six mares had begun to set their plan in motion. They soon left Sugarcube Corner and made their way into the Everfree Forest to get their four potential new friends.