Love and Tolerance

Love and Tolerance - Chapter Two

Dead silence was what followed Pinkie Pie's declaration. A mixture of reactions were among her friends. Rarity spit out her juice all over her dress(something that wasn't usual for her), Apple Jack's eyes were wide, but Twilight, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash seemed to be accepting. Thank Celestia.

Pinkie bit her lip and offered a half smile. Some of her friends' reactions caused her to lower her head once more and stare blankly at the floor. She waited for someone to break the silence, to reassure her that she was still loved, still cared for, but no one did.

"Um. . ." Pinkie tried. Her voice cracked, but that was the least of her worries at the moment. She just hoped she hadn't ruined the night for anypony.

"It's okay, Pinkie. We still love you. Right everypony?" Fluttershy told her, attempting to live up to her Element of Harmony.

"Yeah! No sweat!" Rainbow added, putting her hoof around Pinkie's neck for good measure. "We still love you, Pink." Twilight smiled.

Rarity tried to speak, but whatever she choked out was incoherent and inaudible. Meanwhile, her mind was racing. How could one of her friends be. . . homosexual?! What had happened to turn her friend to this lifestyle? Was there anything that could be done to fix this, before it was too late?!

"Somethin' wrong, Rares?" Apple Jack asked.

"I just-It's so disgusting! You're disgusting!" Rarity cried out in a fit of pain and fury. In the spur of the moment, Rarity did not realize what she had said and ran off, out of Sugarcube Corner, away from her best friends.

Pinkie's worst suspicions were turning out to be correct; she really did ruin somepony's night. And that was the night of the pony she expected to love and tolerate her the most. Pinkie felt her eyes filling with tears. She shut her eyes tightly, causing the salty tears to brim over her eyelids and flow down her cheeks. She was supposed to make everypony smile and be happy, not ruin their night and separate a whole group of friends from each other! She should have kept her mouth shut. She shouldn't have said anything. Then, they would still be having fun, dancing, and smiling. Then she wouldn't be experiencing all of this pain.

"Pinkie, it's okay. I still love and accept you." Twilight trotted closer to her friend and embraced her in a friendly hug. Even though this kind of embrace, from exactly the right person was what she had been hoping for all night, Pinkie's spirits still remained low. She had caused pain in one of her best friends. How could she ever fix that? How could she ever look at Rarity right again, after she had said all those mean things to her? How could she--

"I'm gay, too."

Pinkie's eyes grew wide and her mouth fell agape. What?! Was it possible that there might be a chance? She felt her smile grow wider and wider into a real grin. She didn't have to even try to make it look real this time.

"R-really? I mean- awesome! In fact, was just about to ask you-" Pinkie prepared to spill the beans for Twilight. There was no doubt in her mind now that she and Twilight could be together. She began to see the visions of them growing old together, adopting a foal, snuggling near the fire. . .

"I have a marefriend!" Twilight announced joyfully, blissfully unaware of the pain she had just caused.

Pinkie's honest grin faded along with her high spirits and joy. So she already had a marefriend. . . Her heart felt like it was being torn in a million different directions and shattered to pieces like a glass jar dropped from a balcony. Her hopes and dreams were mercilessly being crushed and stomped on by the world; her outlook on life started to droop. But Pinkie was supposed to be happy all the time, so she had to plaster on yet another fake smile and carry on.

"Oh, super dooper wooper! Hee hee! Who is it? They must be sooo lucky to have you, Twily!"

Twilight gave another warm smile. "Believe it or not, it's Trixie! We bumped into each other at the coffee shop downtown and started talking. It turns out that we have a lot more in common than we thought! I guess that just goes to show how you shouldn't judge somepony based on first impressions, and you should only make conclusions about their character after really getting to know them. Hey! What a great idea for a letter to the princess! Well, I'd better get going. Have fun you guys! And good luck getting your own marefriend, Pinkie!" With that, Twilight trotted out of Sugarcube Corner, letting the door close behind her, making the bell on the door jingle like an old tune.

Pinkie called out a half-spirited goodbye to her friend. Even though she was down in the dumps(majorly), she had to carry on. Maybe she could find an equally awesome marefriend. But then again, why should she take no for an answer?

Nopony else was as beautiful as Twilight. Nopony was as intelligent as Twilight.

Nopony would do except Twilight.

That, Pinkie knew for sure.