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...
THE END
8/21/13